Category: ACT Party

Source: ACT Party

Headline: Free Press -A Case Study in Government Waste

How the Government Wastes Your Money We were amazed to learn of a Government report on New Zealanders’ attitudes to sport. No private household or business would have paid for this truly asinine report, but the Government made sure every single one of you did. Since you paid for it (the Government hasn’t said how much), Free Press wants you to know what you got. The Findings “90 per cent of the people believe being active keeps them physically fit and healthy. 88 per cent believe that sport and other physical activities provide them with opportunities to achieve and help build confidence. 84 per cent believe sport and physical activity bring people together and create a sense of belonging. 74 per cent say sport and physical activity help build vibrant and stimulating communities.” We are not making this up, you can read the all the findings here. Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dumber Reports like this can’t just be put together in the first few months of a new Government, especially with the Christmas break and all. It was commissioned not by Labour but the previous National Party Minister of Sport. This report is not only an example of Labour’s spendthrift assault on your wallet, it is proof that National are no better. What’s Really Going On We estimate the report cost about $400,000. It provides New Zealanders with nothing they couldn’t have guessed. The most interesting finding is that apparently 10 per cent don’t think being active keeps you fit and healthy. It doesn’t help the Minister of Sport, what would he have done if the study had said New Zealand’s don’t like sport after all? PR Job The study was never going to say sport is bad. Its real purpose is to soften up the Minister of Finance to give more money to Sport New Zealand, who commissioned it. This is how Government wastes money on helping itself to more of your money. It is just one more little example of why New Zealand needs an ACT Party. An Outrage (not exaggerating) The Independent Police Complaint Authority’s finding that the police broke the law when they set up a fake checkpoint to monitor people who went to a meeting is the most important news of last week. We take it for granted that the police will follow the law, we’ve got so used to it that we don’t often think of it. When you boil it down, the difference between Stalin’s Russia and us is that here the humblest citizen can expect the law to come to their aid if they’re mistreated by the state and its agents. A Much Larger Outrage (still not exaggerating) Everyone makes mistakes, but it’s what you do about it that counts. The Police Commissioner’s response that the police had good intentions when they broke the law so it’s ok. There will be no consequences within the police. ACT has called for the commissioner to step down. The most basic civil liberties should be jealously guarded. A Moral Problem New Zealand’s response to the Russian poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia has been pathetic. We have been referred to in the Five Eyes alliance as the blink in ‘four eyes and a blink.’ Only last weekend our foreign Minister was defending Russia. It makes one wonder, why is Winston Peters so enamored with the Russians? We’ve heard lots, but it is not quite printable yet. Any tips happily received. Another Moral Problem Western Australia is openly discussing a possible influx of South African refugees since the country undertook to wipe basic property rights from its constitution. No Government who takes the values of our society seriously could stay silent while another parliament votes to steal some citizen’s property, but ours actually blocked ACT’s motion to debate the situation in Parliament. The Difference Between Parliament and Government Inside the political beltway, tongues are flapping about the Greens giving their questions at Question Time to National. They say it is a clever and innovative approach to democracy. They are in Government, they figure, so why would they need to ask questions of the Government? Except half the Green MPs are not Ministers, and not part of the Government. Backbenchers like them are supposed to hold the Government accountable. It’s All Caucus Politics The Greens’ leader James Shaw has just stripped his own Backbenchers of the right to ask parliamentary questions in the name of innovation. But is Shaw the earnest Edgar he likes to pretend? Well, he overtook seasoned MPs to become leader in his first Parliamentary term. Now, when Marama Davidson becomes co-leader in a few weeks’ time, she along with fellow ‘protestors’ Chloe Swarbrick and Golriz Gharaman on the back benches will have one fewer platform to make trouble from. What Shaw Should Have Been Doing The Census decides more about who gets what than any election. Schools and Hospitals can’t get funded for people the census says doesn’t exist. We will never know how many people missed being counted in the online census because paper forms were only available to those who asked for them. There are widespread stories about people who couldn’t or wouldn’t do it online and didn’t get a paper form. Shaw Offshore The Census should have been issued on paper and advertised the online option for those who wanted it. Then we could compare online results with paper results. We’d have a baseline for next time if we chose to go all-online then. Unfortunately Statistics Minister James Shaw was overseas on census night, and probably didn’t pay much attention beforehand either. Missing in Action On all of these issues except for cosying up to the Greens, Simon Bridges has been missing in action. He is too busy courting the Greens and the Maori seats.

Source: ACT Party

Headline: Tax on ciggies is ‘blood money’

“After two violent dairy robberies in the past week, it is only a matter of time before someone is killed, and both Labour and National will be responsible”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“The $1.7 billion per year in tobacco tax revenue collected by the Government each year is blood money, obtained by putting people’s lives at risk.

“Just $1.8 million of that revenue, or 0.1%, is directed to protecting dairy owners at risk of being robbed, assaulted, or even murdered.

“In 2016, the National Government put in place a punitive series of four annual tobacco tax increases. These tax increases are driving violent crimes.

“The Herald reported last October that there had been about 500 robberies of tobacco retailers in a 13 month period.

“Smokers already pay for the costs they impose on society. A 2007 report commissioned by tobacco control groups found that “smokers contribute considerably more in taxes than the net ‘economic costs’ to the rest of the community caused by their smoking” and that “no further increases in tobacco excise are justified”.

“ACT is calling on the Government, as part of Budget 2018, to direct 10 per cent of the revenue collected on tobacco to protecting vulnerable business owners,” says Mr Seymour.

Source: ACT Party

Headline: Greenpeace ban would be lose-lose

“A ban on oil and gas exploration as proposed by Greenpeace would put 11,000 jobs at risk and could harm the environment”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.

The oil and gas industry creates thousands of jobs, contributes $2.5 billion to the New Zealand economy and $500 million to the Government in royalties each year.

“Not only would a ban on exploration make us poorer as a country, it would drive production of oil and gas overseas which will harm the environment.

“Natural gas has about half the emissions of coal, and New Zealand-produced oil has lower emissions than oil produced overseas

“This ban would force New Zealand households and firms to buy higher-cost and dirtier energy from foreign sources.

“Are Greenpeace going to stop consuming all products derived from oil and gas? Or do they simply want to force production of these goods offshore? The former is the principled stand, but we suspect they will take the latter, hypocritical approach.

“This is a lose-lose policy and the Government should consider very carefully how it will impact New Zealanders”, says Mr Seymour.

Source: ACT Party

Headline: How Much Was Spent Telling Us We Enjoy Sport?

“Sport Minister Grant Robertson needs to reveal how much taxpayer money was spent on research that shows Kiwis ‘value’ sport”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“The only remarkable thing about this report is that a group of bureaucrats and politicians believed they needed to spend money finding out that physical activity has social and health benefits.

“No New Zealander will be surprised to learn any of the following:

• “…New Zealanders see value in sport and active recreation.”

• “The opportunity to socialise is central to many people’s decision to participate in physical activity and sport.”

• “A sense of belonging is important to New Zealanders’ feelings of wellbeing.”

• “Regular participation in…team sport is associated with improved social skills.”

• “Sport and physical activity can…improve health outcomes.”

“This report – commissioned by National and now proudly revealed by the Government – is an astonishing waste of New Zealanders’ money.

“It shows why New Zealand needs a strong ACT to act as a voice for taxpayers”, says Mr Seymour.

Source: ACT Party

Headline: Why is Hipkins Hiding the Final Charter Schools Report?

ACT Leader David Seymour is questioning why Education Minister Chris Hipkins is suppressing the final Martin Jenkins evaluation of charter schools.

“I wonder if Mr Hipkins is not bullying Martin Jenkins into modifying the report to talk down the schools?”, asks Mr Seymour.

In 2014, the Ministry of Education contracted Martin Jenkins to deliver an independent evaluation of the performance of the charter school model. Its reports were to be delivered between 2014 and 2017.

“The first report found the flexibility of the model was enabling charter schools to deliver ‘innovative educational provision for students who have been under-served by the education system.’

“In its second report, Martin Jenkins said charter schools were reaching priority students – those at higher risk of not achieving.

“The final report appears to have been completed, but not released. What does it contain? Why is Chris Hipkins hiding it? Is the Minister having the report altered to suppress glowing reviews about charter schools?

“A usually-reliable source suggests the final, secret report has found the following:

• Charter schools are engaging disadvantaged kids, including kids that hadn’t even been attending school previously;
• Attendance at charter schools is extremely high;
• Charter schools build the self-esteem of students who attend them;
• Charter schools have been outstandingly successful for Maori, with Maori pass rates in charter schools exceeding the New Zealand average;
• The schools have used flexibility of funding and management structure to make innovative offerings to students, confirming earlier reports.

“Chris Hipkins can’t hide the report forever. At some point, New Zealanders are going to learn what 1500 students already know: charter schools change lives for the better”, says Mr Seymour.

Source: ACT Party

Headline: Police Commissioner Must Resign

“The Police Commissioner had a chance to take responsibility for his officers breaking the law and, having ducked the issue, is not fit for office,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“Requiring police to follow the law is what separates a free society like New Zealand from becoming a police state.

“The Privacy Commissioner clearly understands the principle at stake when he ruled that Police had invaded people’s privacy. He said ‘The primary function of Police is to maintain the law and there is an expectation that they will follow the law and their own policies at all times. This is especially the case when they engage with members of the public or use their powers to investigate offences.

“The Independent Police Conduct Authority has been crystal clear that “Police were not justified in establishing a vehicle checkpoint to identify individuals who had attended an Exit International meeting.”

“The Police accept in the IPCA report that the officers involved did not even consider whether they were breaking the law.

“The IPCA saw the Police’s post-hoc justification that s41 of the Crimes Act allows force to be used to prevent suicide for what it was, a weasel’s exercise in bottom covering.

“The Police response, put out by the Associate Commissioner (simultaneously with the IPCA report), is even weaker. They ‘accept that establishing a vehicle checkpoint to identify meeting attendees was unlawful. However, our staff acted in order to protect life and did not intentionally break the law.’

“A Police Commissioner who thinks it is okay for the Police to break the law so long as they mean well is intolerable. It amounts to saying New Zealanders’ rights are at the whim of what police officers think is good for them.

“In case there is any suggestion the police really were acting in people’s best interests, members of the public interviewed by the IPCA that police later visited said the found the visits ‘patronising’ and ‘threatening.’

In spite of that, there will be no consequences for anyone in the police who broke the law. What leadership is the Commissioner showing, and what message is that leadership sending to the nation’s Police officers, if breaking the law is just part of being on the beat?

“Despite the seriousness of this case, the Police have engaged in post-hoc self-justification and avoidance of responsibility. The Commissioner has said there will be no consequences for those Police officers who broke the law. If he cannot run the Police in line with the fundamental rights and freedoms of New Zealanders, then he is unfit for office and must resign.”

Source: ACT Party

Headline: Seymour Welcomes Operation Painter Findings

ACT Leader David Seymour has welcomed the findings of the Privacy Commissioner’s investigation into Operation Painter.

“The Police have channelled an Orwellian Police State by engaging in activity you’d expect from the KGB.”

“A ban on assisted dying has forced reasonable choice underground and invited corruption.”

“For 120 million people worldwide end of life choice is a legal choice. The raids, intimidation and scare tactics used on law-abiding New Zealanders by Police is a direct result of prohibition.”

“The Police Commissioner must take these findings extremely seriously and protect New Zealanders from undue, unlawful Police actions.”

“MPs that vote against my Bill are condoning punishing New Zealanders wanting choice by pushing them into black markets out of fear of law enforcement.”

Source: ACT Party

Headline: ACT Forces Tobacco Tax Backdown

ACT Leader David Seymour has welcomed the Associate Health Minister’s backdown on tobacco taxes.

“Just two weeks ago, Jenny Salesa was neglecting her basic ministerial duties by not answering written parliamentary questions on tobacco taxes. I had to highlight this in a press release in order to get some answers.

“She eventually answered by saying she didn’t believe smokers were paying too much tax, she hadn’t asked for advice on the unintended consequences of tobacco taxes, and she wouldn’t review tobacco taxes. 

“Now, in a complete reversal, the Ministry of Health will commission an evaluation of the unintended consequences of tobacco taxes, such as an increase in crime, including illicit trade, as well as the financial impact of smokers and their families.

“While this is a welcome development, it has come far too late for the hundreds of retailers that have been the victims of brutal crimes, and New Zealand’s poorest families who are having $178 million in additional tax taken from them.

“Salesa should stop flying by the seat of her pants, move desicively, and repeal the Nats’ brutal tax increases on smokers”, says Mr Seymour.

Source: ACT Party

Headline: Young Labour Incident: Has Obstruction of Justice Taken Place?

The Labour Party has relied on reviews for every real and imagined problem it faces, from housing to education to mental health, however using a review to duck responsibility for the Young Labour scandal is a new low. The questions it needs to ask are actually very simple ones:

Who knew about the alleged incidents that took place at the Young Labour camp and when did they know them?

Did they follow the law in dealing with those allegations?

Did they discourage young people from approaching Police?

These questions are of critical importance. There is no need for a review, Jacinda Ardern should be a leader and demand answers to these questions.

If the Prime Minister or Andrew Kirton are aware that those who knew about these allegations prevented them from coming to light, those individuals must be referred to Police so they can be investigated for obstruction of justice”, says Mr Seymour.

Source: ACT Party

Headline: Cut Corporate Welfare Before Going After ‘Rich Pricks’

“The Government should be focussed on reducing wasteful spending before introducing new taxes”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“$1.6 billion of corporate welfare is doled out to politically-connected businesses each year. If Grant Robertson was able to do away with this expenditure, he would be able to cut the corporate tax rate by 6 percentage points – boosting wages, jobs, and growth – rather than increasing it as he intends.

“The outcome of this Tax Working Group will be to increase the complexity of the tax system and the burden faced by hardworking New Zealanders. This will do nothing to boost our economic fortunes.

“National’s criticism of the Tax Working Group is particularly hypocritical for two reasons. One, the Nats didn’t cut taxes when they had the chance. Two, they couldn’t control wasteful spending which would have taken the pressure off for new taxes to be introduced.

“What Mr Robertson should do is glance at the International Monetary Fund’s recent study on the best way for countries to reduce their level of debt. It found cutting spending is less harmful to economic growth than raising taxes.

“In other words, the Labour-NZ First-Greens recipe of higher taxes and higher spending will deliver lower economic growth and wages, and fewer jobs.

“Mr Robertson can start cutting waste by sacking Michael Cullen”, says Mr Seymour.