Govt eyes $17.7B more tax as economy slows
The Government plans to squeeze an extra $17.7 billion in tax out of ordinary New Zealanders in the next four years even as the economy slows, meaning it will take...
Labour and Greens filibustering means synthetics Bill won’t pass this year
Labour and the Green Party have been standing in the way of tougher penalties for peddlers of synthetic cannabis, despite National’s Psychoactive Substances Amendment Bill having majority support in Parliament,...
Bill’s passage clears way for Dam construction
The passing of the Tasman District Council (Waimea Water Augmentation Scheme) Bill has cleared the way for the construction to begin on the largest dam to be built in New...
Fees free headache wastes $50 million plus
The Government’s fees free scheme is not only an educational failure, it is also wasting tens of millions of dollars of taxpayers money on free gap years and late withdrawals,...
Housing portfolio has rudderless Minister at helm
After more than a year in Government and almost halfway through the first year of the KiwiBuild policy it has become clear that the Housing portfolio, headed by Minister Phil...
Govt adopts National’s Bill to stop livestock rustling
Rangitikei MP Ian McKelvie is pleased that his Sentencing (Livestock Rustling) Amendment Members Bill has been adopted by the Government as a Supplementary Order Paper on the Crimes Amendment Bill....
Govt blocks changes to streamline insurance claims
It’s disappointing the Government has rejected a proposed change to the Earthquake Commission Amendment Bill which would’ve streamlined the process for claimants after a significant natural disaster, National’s EQC spokesperson...
Less open, more spin
A record number of Official Information Act requests have been declined by the State Services Commissions in the past year, despite the agency being responsible for implementing the Government’s pledge...
Early Christmas present for Kris Faafoi
National agrees changes should be made to the KiwiSaver Act to allow people with life-shortening conditions earlier access to their funds, but instead of another review the Minister should adopt...
Brakes needed on blanket plan to slow Auckland down
Auckland Transport’s plan to radically reduce the speed limit in the CBD is an over-reaction that would prove deeply frustrating for Aucklanders, National’s Transport spokesperson Paul Goldsmith says. “Consultation on...