Dunne: Cullen dismissed Goff tax-free idea years ago

Labour leader Phil Goff’s pledge to make the first $5000 of income tax-free was rejected out of hand by Michael Cullen in the last government, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne said today.

 “So when did a bad idea become a good idea?” Mr Dunne asked.

 “I know what Labour’s thinking on this was as I was Revenue Minister at the time, and part of those discussions and decisions.

 “Michael Cullen is on the record as specifically discounting such a threshold as of little benefit to low income earners and far too costly.

 “In Dr Cullen’s own words, such a move would have ‘minimal benefit for a very small number of low income earners’.

 Mr Dunne said voters would see this for what it is: “a political party down in the polls and grasping for populist straws.

 “People see through these kind of flip-flops and hip pocket bribes.

 “Michael Cullen – a Labour icon – saw it as bad policy; Phil Goff needs to really explain why it’s now this week’s latest, greatest idea,” Mr Dunne said.

Dunne: Newlands 10-year Development Plan great step forward

Ohariu MP Peter Dunne has welcomed the Newlands Paparangi Progressive Association’s development of a 10 year action plane for the development of the area.

 “This is a great step forward, and I congratulate the NPPA on its initiative,” he said.

 Mr Dunne was one of the panel assembled by the NPPA to prioritise the over 600 ideas to improve the local community that Newlands/Paparangi people put forward last year.

 The panel identified 20 key priorities, and these were launched by the NPPA on 1 February.

 “At the local level, this is great for the Newlands/Paparangi area – the local community is taking charge of its own destiny and setting for local and central government the way it wants to see its community develop over the next decade, and I warmly welcome that.

 “At a national level, this initiative also sets a new benchmark, and shows the potential power of organised and focused residents’ associations.

 “This is an exciting wake-up call for the whole of New Zealand, and I look forward to the day when residents’ associations all over the country are doing likewise in their own areas.

 “In the meantime, I will be working keenly with the NPPA and the Wellington City Council in the first instance to bring this exciting programme to fruition,” Mr Dunne said.

 Details of the 10 Year Plan are available at newlands.civilsociety.org.nz

Dunne: 47c top tax rate needed to get Labour’s 10 bucks

New Zealanders earning over $100,000 a year would need to pay a top tax rate of 47 cents in the dollar just to fund Labour’s promised $10 a week tax break, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne said today.

 “That’s up from the current top tax rate of 33 cents, which the Government brought down from 38 cents in last year’s Budget,” Mr Dunne said.

 “These figures are calculated off the $1.3 billion shortfall that Labour would need to find if Phil Goff is to make the first $5000 of income tax-free.

 “I don’t think New Zealanders will find ramping up the top tax rate by half acceptable.

 “Once a government starts taking half of a dollar earned, you have got to ask if you are talking taxation or robbery. It is simply getting beyond what can be justified in any fair system aimed at incentivising people to earn,” he said.

 ‘That kind of short-sighted policy kills aspiration and sends higher-earning, skilled workers overseas in their droves, and is just part and parcel of Labour’s politics of envy,” he said.

 If Labour brought in a top tax rate at $120,000, the required rate would be 52 cents in the dollar.

Temporary access to Kaingaroa fails to solve problem

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne has reiterated his commitment to finding an enduring solution to the Kaingaroa Forest access dispute despite today’s announcement of a short-term relaxation of the summer ban.

 Due to recent heavy rain Timberlands have announced that the Kaingaroa Forest will be open for recreational access over the next two weekends. The fire danger within the forest has dropped from moderate to low, meeting Timberlands strict criteria for allowing access.

 “I commend Timberlands for dropping the fire danger and allowing a temporary restoration of access, however this is only a short-term solution brought on by fortuitous circumstances,” said Mr Dunne.

 “I congratulate Eastern Fish and Game and others who have lobbied on behalf of fishers for better access, at least over the next couple of weeks people can enjoy the world class fishing the Rangitaiki River and Flaxy Lakes provide.”

 “However, we mustn’t lose sight of the larger goal, which is to establish a more enduring and workable set of access provisions for the Kaingaroa that will satisfy the long-term needs of all parties.”

 “It is totally unreasonable that the only time people can access the forest and its waterways is when the fire danger is low, in the past the risk had to be at very high or extreme before access to recreational users was denied.”

 “While the next couple of weeks is a godsend for fishermen and local businesses, I am committed to finding a more lasting solution to the access issue and will continue to work with interested parties to do so,” said Mr Dunne.

Dunne: 1080 is failing our native birds

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne has called for greater investment in alternative pest control methods following further evidence presented by the Environment Commissioner that 1080 is failing to control predatory pests.

 “For over 40 years 1080 has been used in New Zealand yet our native bird populations remain in decline and targeted pests such as possums, rats and stoats are still the major culprits,” said Mr Dunne.

 “We currently spend around $100 million a year on 1080 operations, which is an awful lot of money for something with a dubious record of success. We also have to bear the side-effects of spraying such an unpopular and deadly toxin over large tracts of our conservation estate, water catchments and farmland.”

 “1080 is an extremely cruel and indiscriminate killer, with a high level of secondary poisoning. While it is mammals and therefore pests that are most susceptible to the poison, many native birds are killed by it also.”

 “It is time we changed course.”

 “DoC currently spends less than $2 million a year on researching and developing alternatives. With that level of investment no wonder we are still banging the same old drum we were 40 years ago!”

 “If we are to save our native bird populations we need to substantially increase the amount of funding available to develop anti-1080 alternatives. DoC and other agencies responsible for pest control need to significantly contribute to this out of their existing 1080 budget.”

 “Newly developed self-setting traps for both stoats and possums should be invested in further and 21^st century technologies such as genetic or biological controls must be explored and if possible accelerated.”

 “Local communities also need to be better empowered to contribute to pest control operations.”

 “For example, the possum product industry is already worth $120 million annually to New Zealand. With the right incentives in place it could grow to be worth many times that amount while significantly denting possum numbers. In areas such as Northland, the East Cape and the West Coast, where pest management is a priority and unemployment is high, it seems an absolute no-brainer.”

 “I look forward to the Environment Commissioner’s final report on 1080 in April and will read with interest the alternatives she puts forward,” said Mr Dunne.