Not according to a "tax expert" (Sorry didn;t catch her name) I listened to on Newstalk ZB this morning who had been looking at the Labour policy. She was scathing in the lack of detail and glaring gaps in the policy
Printable View
This is lifted straight from the policy
Calculating the Gain
The tax will be applied to net capital gains.
The CGT is a net tax. It is calculated on the net gain, which is the gross gain after the costs associated with buying and selling the asset are deducted. Such costs include: stockbrokers’ fees, legal fees, valuation fees, advertising costs to find a buyer or costs associated with improving the value of the asset.
I am suggesting she hasn't read it if she is saying costs associated with improving the assets will not be taking into account.
Edit: If she really did go on the radio and say this someone should be holding her to account, as it is blatant misrepresentation.
Our current tax policy is full of exemptions. Does it work?
From the article I linked earlier:
MYTH 3: THEY BECOME A SWISS CHEESE OF EXEMPTIONS
It has been suggested - for example, in the 2001 review of New Zealand's tax system - that benefits of a capital gains tax inevitably erode over time because they are amended more often.
South Africa's experience shows that its capital gains tax has been amended no more often than other types of tax in South Africa.
The amendments have not been of the type (significant new exemptions and preferences, for example) that critics of capital gains tax are concerned about.
New Zealand's experience is that because of the constant need to clarify and protect the boundary between capital gains and ordinary income, a system without capital gains tax is subject to frequent ad hoc amendment.
Regarding the holes, these still need to be thrashed out. The policy is peppered with clauses such as the following:
The Expert Panel will be asked to provide advice on outstanding issues in relation to trusts, in cooperation with the Law Commission. This will include whether CGT is applied to distribution to a beneficiary or unit holder or upon realisation even if that occurs within a trust structure. There may also be technical issues relating to Trans-Tasman treatment of assets.
In other words, as belg said, "Exactly how it will work, i.e. the detail, will be worked out by experts through the established democratic process which we can all participate in."
I put it to you that NZ will get CGT, if not this term it will be the next, as I cannot imagine National will be in power for the next 30 years.
It's bad policy. There is some merit in 20k for a new house, which is less than govt. will gain in GST and will mean some houses built that otherwise wouldn't be; but it's nonsense. However I will vote for them. I do not expect to ever find a party whose policies are 100% in line with my thinking, so vote against the party I think will do most harm. I don't like Labour's housing policy either and don't believe it would ever achieve what they say (100,000 houses in ten years with 10,000 in the first 3 year term )- unless they slam into mass produced ghettos like state housing of the 40s.
Latest
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=11319024
Key should tell Crusher to take a runner once and for all and withdraw her nomination from wherever she standing
But then maybe Crusher knows a lot more than all this
http://www.sharetrader.co.nz/images/misc/quote_icon.png Originally Posted by couta1 http://www.sharetrader.co.nz/images/...post-right.png And capital loss as non traders would also be entitled to claim all their losses against other income.
I heard DC say (and others) that it against future Capitals gains
For example year 1 you had a loss of $1000 on assets that qualified you sold, year 2 you had a gain of $2000 on qualifying assets sold, the tax would be calculated on $1000 only
Share traders would continue to taxed at their marginal rate
Not having a repatriation clause has a downside for businesses wanting to expand, and what you say about overspending on our houses, putting labour in, and being poor investments applies equally to residential rentals. And no investor can claim interest back. Where did you get that idea? Furthermore the biggest cost in housing, depreciation, is no longer considered an expense; possibly the silliest move of the current government.
"Just smile and wave" lol thats about it; all the way to the knackers yard.
Looks more and more like this election is Nationals to lose ; awaiting what else is going to spill out onto the sidewalk.
So far the only thing that hasn't spilled out onto the street is any sign of an effective Labour Party. As ElZorro can tell you there is a$1,000 bet on this one and for all the bluster and bull**** no one has stepped forward to accept the second $1,000 bet that I offered. Now back to the real world.
Sorry craic I'm not a betting man and would never invest in SKC etc its too damaging/destructive on families etc. Who knows what will or won't be exposed leading up to the election and i agree labour have executed poorly on the cap gains tax. Im sure it will be worked and reworked until we have an equitable arrangement;are we not one of the few countries that don't have one?
There won't be any voter swing to Labour/Greens. They are just not popular and that won't change. I think it's looking like The Conservatives will get 5%+ meaning National won't need Winston First - maybe not too much wrong with that as long as Craig doesn't get silly about unworkable bottom lines.
My feelings exactly. People are bored and turned off by the hesad/shesaid garbage and the fat dog at the bottom gate, surrounded the associated mongrels frightens a lot of people who know that Labour would be beholden to them if National couldn't get the numbers. I, for the first time, am voting for a candidate that I know wont win this seat but at the end of the day I will be largely unaffected by the result - I will still sleep in the same bed with the same woman (Labour didn't think to offer an exchange scheme that might have attracted me) and will still eat the same food and drink the same wine as I do now. My progeny have already gone on to greater things elsewhere. And last but not least, if you think this world we live in is going to last forever, think again. Putin is almost ready to Put on a cocked hat and shove one hand into his jacket and ride across Europe. Some Lunatic Moslem is about to do the same across the Arab world. Ebola is spreading faster than Argentine ants and the odd volcano is getting restive here and there. So forget about the slogan " It's moments like these you need a Minto"
For anyone interested in all the polls "at a glance" there is a neat page on wiki that summarises them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion...election,_2014
You should have a little more faith in the NZ electorate, they've generally got it right over the years. The only time I reckon they didn't get it right was in '81 when Muldoon got reelected (thanks John Minto!). If National get in again, we'll be having another very centrist government - fine by me.
Just because they don't agree with you does not mean they are brain washed. In fact they may think that you are the one that is brain washed. One thing that the masses don't want is massive changes and that is what the left will bring. And then mismanage it if the last two days are any indication.
Snapper
Its quite possible we could have a very unstable National government with all the controversies swirling around it. If it transpires that the alleged transgressions by the Prime Ministers Department and others in the government become worse and involve John Key directly we could be looking at a constitutional crisis. Who knows how this will play out, but nothing can be ruled out
" he who sows the wind will reap the whirlwind"
You're right, it could play out like that but I think it would be a long shot. I just don't think I could handle David Cunliffe as a PM. I bet he can't even play golf and he'd probably call the queen 'mate'.
Seriously though, the Labour lineup is seriously deficient in talent, most of them hate Cunliffe, and then you've got the Greens/IM and possibly Winnie involved.
I well recall the Australian Constitutional crisis of 1975 which ended up with the very popular Gough Whitlam being dismissed by the Governor General John Kerr. These things can happen. I just don't think post the election its back to business as usual, not by a long shot. Very interesting times indeed, most unusual for our usually stable democracy
Things are likely to remain stable. The biggest threat to stability will be Peters if National have only Winston First to rely on. The best result we can hope for is to mirror the Stuff poll published this morning which sees Winston First dead and buried. Even Labour supporters will undoubtedly agree once they get their heads around the fact that the govt. will be National or National led.
Todays Herald digi-poll shows that the scene is unchanged by the "revelations" of the last week or so. Key thinks that the public are sick of the hesaid/shesaid rubbish and he is probably right. It seems that the botttom-dwellers have overestimated their own importance in the scheme of things. When the fat man gets together with Julian Assange to deliver his fatal blow on John Key just days before polling day, he will find that the target has gone and all his powder is wet.
Agreed. We're going in on Saturday on the way to the club and will have decided the fate of the nation by noon on that day - unless my wife decides that she hasn't got enough elastic or something and decrees that a side trip to Aaron's Emporium is more important.
Desperation strikes Belge.
Winston First is a totally unprincipled opportunist, he's against anything that being against might possibly bring him a vote in the opinion polls.
His camp followers to Parliament are totally moronic insignificant underachievers.
He didn't want the "baubles of power" so he became Foreign Affairs Minister. He told big obvious porkies in the Owen Glenn business. The only two things he has consistently followed is being against immigration and being against land sales. Xenophobic, unreasoning, hysterical populism. Sooner he departs the better.
Once again this page is peppered with constant posts that are in my "blocked sender list" Maybe the poster is frustrated to the point where he will again warrant censure? I want the pleasure of actually reading one of his post safter National win.
And you're not blinkered Belge?
Any of that violent protest you talk about will be initiated by the likes of you who won't accept that democracy decided the outcome on Sept. 20th.
Your second sentence indicates that you now accept that it will be a National led government. It has taken a while.
You are at least entertaining and are becoming more rattled as that date closes in.
Can't wait for next weeks episodes.
PS Just removed you from my ignore list for the run up.
Trying to be objective about this it seems to me that this morning's opinion polls showing support for Labour slipping, despite a few blows to the govt these last few weeks, might indicate concern among Labour voters that returning their party can only occur with a coalition of disparate groups of which they disapprove. The alternative then is to switch to the other centralist party, National, as the lesser of two evils. The sort of "devil that you know"!
Gordon McLauchlan: Why are our politicians sleepwalking?
5:00 AM Thursday Sep 4, 2014187 comments
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Do I see people who have integrity and ready to take us into the future with imaginative policies? Yeah? Nah.
http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webconte...b0_620x311.jpgJohn Key is captain of a ship that's lost its way. Photo / Greg Bowker
A blogger who has openly declared that politics and politicians are necessarily "despicable" and who peppers his (formerly) private messages with obscenities is (was?) a mutually accepted "close friend" of the former Minister of Justice.
The former minister made it clear in undisputed emails between them that she believed not in "utu", which is open revenge, but in a furtive, underhand version of getting your own back "double".
The blogger and the former minister were involved with a group, members of which appeared not to mind damaging the lives of people with whom they disagreed and who were frustrating their agenda.
Among that group was a government employee close to the Prime Minister, who later worked for the National Party and who has made no attempt to defend accusations of complicity.
The Prime Minister also had "regular" phone conversations with the blogger.
That much, anyway, seems to be incontrovertible.
How much the Prime Minister knew of all these machinations is open to question, but he was captain of the ship that has so badly lost its way and if he was just trustingly negligent does he thus escape any blame?
What flabbergasts me is that he and, worse, most political columnists are telling me this is all a distraction and I should put it aside and concentrate on party policies.
Am I some sort of weird retro-moralist who finds all this disgraceful, inexcusable and the main political issue of the day? The only way to get to the bottom of it is a full inquiry conducted with judicial rigour; so, of course, that won't happen because too many people don't want to get to the bottom of it.
Okay, I did decide not to be distracted and rather to consider party policies. What I found was mostly various forms of political somnambulism set in a world in turmoil.
The Government is sleepwalking into the future accompanied by some people who are hungry and despondent down on their hands and knees, and followed by the Maori Party picking up scraps.
The Labour Party is also sleepwalking and with eyes closed can't even see the future.
The Conservative Party is sleepwalking backwards into the past; Act is sleepwalking into the jungle; United Future is sleepwalking in gradually diminishing circles before it disappears up its own agenda; but the Internet-Mana Party is walking, alertly, into the ether where burglars don't need balaclavas.
New Zealand First is wide awake, trying to repel boarders from the future; and the Greens are the same old unfathomable Greens.
So, how do we stand as a nation? In 1969, as a journalist, I covered a National Development Conference organised by our last far-sighted government, led by Keith Holyoake. The conference was held because Britain was joining Europe and we were to fend economically for ourselves.
The most compelling recommendations were that future prosperity for us lay in adding value to our primary products. The advice was ignored.
I have been around for many decades and for the first time see New Zealand as a sad, subservient, rudderless little country in which I have no pride.
Let me explain. The United States used to buy up small Central American countries and arrange for the locals to plant and harvest bananas on low wages before the fruit and the profits were shipped away. They were called, disparagingly, "banana republics". We are already a "pine log republic" and there is still a chance we will become a "milk powder republic".
Do I see people of integrity, far-sightedness and who are, yes, politically shrewd, available to take this country on to imaginative, independent policies through intelligent, flexible, long-term planning?
Yeah? Nah.
Thanks belg it is a very good article and i share your frustration at how passive and possum in the headlights most of us are. I put that down partly to Crosby-Textor. Im pasting part of elZorrows (thanks) post here
I think it's likely that the two-pronged strategy of promoting National as an easy-going government not going too far into gutter politics, while passing some of the damaging internal information of government onto right-wing bloggers, came from Crosby-Textor. Just the idea (originally from the USA), and then some people in the top National circle had to implement it. Looks like they did this with a passion.
Meanwhile, the core work that Crosby-Textor would have given John Key's team, would be to take those nagging doubts that many of us have about, say, Labour and the Greens, amplify them so they are almost ridiculous, and then repeat them on every occasion until they become "real".
By belittling and challenging every step the opposition took using the social and press media, the National Govt have been able to implement some neo-liberal agendas like selling off state assets, borrowing heavily on behalf of the state, while ensuring high-wealth individuals do better than average, and that inequality tends to increase. They have reinforced themselves with positive messages, but all the while the Statistics office and Treasury have recorded (but not generally exposed) some damaging-looking metrics.
Says it all> unfort the other reason is Labour are not performing that well; and Johns keys camp had done their homework so well Cunliffe was a sitting duck re the cap gains ambush. A lot of confused people out there don't make for assertive voters. Pull yourself together Labour Org and get your policies across clearly
and you will close the gap.
I share your frustration belg. I really appreciate you posts and knowledge it is very informing and i just hope like hell the truth comes out as it usually does. The facts that you present will always be ignored by those that don't want to hear it, that aren't open to truth and morals(national at all costs) or those that fear change. Cheers JT
No blinkers here Belge but thanks for not disappointing me with your comments.
As a regular follower of sharetrader I get the impression that this thread is dominated by older probably retired men with fairly fixed views on politics and policy.
As is usual at this stage in an election I have not made up my mind on who to vote for. I know who I won't vote for. National, Act, Mana, or Dotcom 's party.
The Labour, Greens, and NZ First all have some policies I agree with – even National but I am firmly of the view they have too many far right members in the party which makes them dangerous to the NZ way of life.
Since the days of Regan and Thatcher it has become obvious there is a movement to reduce Govt. services, eliminate the power of the unions, lower taxation, remove welfare and generally allow the wealthy to retain there rightful place in society.
Hager has exposed the methods used by the far right of National to destroy the credibility of anyone considered a danger.
Labour has yet to show it has recovered from the influence of Douglas but there are signs they are becoming more responsive to the needs of the average New Zealander.
So there you go. Interesting times.
westerly
Hi westerly. An interesting perspective there and I agree with a lot of it. Not sure about the Douglas influence bit though. Labour managed to slough off Rogernomics - or, live it down sufficiently to win in the Helen Clark era. Just a strong leader and weak opposition at the time? Or other factors?
The "tyranny of the majority" is the necessary "price" of democracy. The only alternative is "the tyranny of the few" who think they know better than the majority and are always ready to tell them what to do. Always "knowing better than the majority" is a type of mental maladjustment. Letting these people be in charge of society is the ultimate disaster because there are no checks and balances against them and they will resolutely refuse to give up power because "they know better".
People such as Belge.
I warrant that the majority get it wrong far less than the elitist few including inverted snobs like Belge.
Vive Democracy!
This made me smile:
One solution he proffered to reduce greenhouse gas emissions included the development of a flock of low methane producing sheep...
but I looked it up and it is true, we are leading the world in the quest to create low-emission (fartless) sheep.
All we have to do now is work on creating low-bs politicians ;)
Belg
Assuming that a National Government will be reelected I am of the opinion that some dormant ideologically driven policies that have been on hold will be resuscitated. By way of example
1. Opening up ACC for private competition
2. Selling Kiwibank
3. Further liberation of Industrial relations legislation
These are examples that come to mind, but there are many others.
The compelling driver will be an analysis of risk versus opportunity. The risk is electoral backlash and the opportunity is entrenching agendas which deliver payback to wealthy supporters who want to see more neo-liberal political capital in the bank before the party is over. The pressure WILL come on to deliver their wish list comprehensively.
Good rises in MRP. MELCA, GNE today. Looks like the market is pricing in no Kiwipower.
Talked before about the lack of talent in the Labour ranks, now this! It might be Labour's "Gilmore" moment...
Fri, 05 Sep 2014
INTRODUCING LABOUR’S SELWYN CANDIDATE
inShare
0 Gordon Dickson, who wrote to our reporter Lloyd Burr telling him to "grow a pair".
By Lloyd Burr
I get told I’m biased all the time. People on Twitter tell me I’m a Tory one day, then tell me I’m a Labour insider the next.
Others heckle you after interviews on the campaign trail if you’ve asked tough questions. Comments on Facebook are another story.
But I’ve never been accused of bias by a politician or candidate, not publicly or in writing anyway.
Which is why I found it astounding when an email from Labour’s Selwyn candidate Gordon Dickson appeared in my inbox this afternoon. Wow.
He calls me lazy, tells me I’ve failed as a journalist and finishes by telling me to “grow a pair”.
Long story short: I first met Mr Dickson in Christchurch two days ago when Labour leader David Cunliffe was voting early.
He approached me and ordered me to interview him, before Labour’s Ilam candidate James Macbeth Dann swiftly interrupted and ordered him away and not to give out his business cards “because they are not authorised”.
Later, I approached Mr Dickson to see what he wanted to say. He replied “Ask the Prime Minister if he has faith in Anne Tolley, Minister of Police. Thank you”. He walked off.
When he refused to elaborate, I told him I wasn’t prepared to ask questions blind. He accused me of being a National Party insider – but left with my business card.
Two days later I got this astonishing email.
Here’s the letter, verbatim – complete with original spelling and formatting:
Attention My L Burr
Political Reporter
Radiolive
Press gallery
Parliament Buildings
Molesworth Street
Wellington
Dear Lazy,
Thank you for your time the other day when at the early voting with M P David Cunliffe and myself in Riccarton Christchurch At which you at the second attempt managed to recorded my questions of the National Party's candidate and current Prime Minister John Keys relating to his confidence or otherwise of another cabinet Minister. This one being the Minister of Police Hon. Anne Tolley of Ohope Beach in the Eastern Bay of Plenty and National Party candidate for the East Coast electorate. Anne Tolley is contesting the seat against current Labour List M P Moana Mackey
As I havent heard back from you with John Keys answers I can only assume you have failed to ask the Prime Minister and hence seek the reasons? To fail to be carry out such a simple task begs the question are you unable, unwilling, lazy or perhaps protecting this National Party candidate from public scrutiny
Please remember John has had to accept the resignation of one Cabinet Minister recently. A M P Judith Collins Perhaps that has escaped your attention Lazy
Perhaps you are lazy? To help you rediscover your previously perceived role in our society i. e the "fourth estate" I attach a copy of my formalised request already in the possession of the Prime Minister and the National Board of Directors as well
Kindly prove you are not lazy and not afraid to ask a reasonable request of John Key by another Political party Give him the opportunity and please do not yourself, like last time tell me "of course he will have confidence in the Minister of Police" (he said that about the Minister of Justice) Let him answer please Lazy
When you fail to do a reasonable job of reporting in a fair and even basis is there an avenue of redress for members of the public to explore? Perhaps you are a member of an association or similar Kindly advise Lazy
I await your response and as you will see on my blog this is not the first failure by the media to protect our society from dirty politics
Have a nice weekend and grow a pair
Regards Gordon
Gordon J Dickson
NEW ZEALAND LABOUR PARTY SELWYN ELECTORATE CANDIDATE IN THE 2014 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
Authorised by Gordon John Dickson 6a Kidman Street, Rolleston Canterbury New Zealand
How on earth did this man make it through Labour’s selection process and win the nomination to contest the Selwyn seat?
But it is the right of the majority elected party to do that. And if the majority don't like how it pans out then they are quite entitled to kick that party out. Its called democracy.
If they don't Banksie et al, then you need to closely re-examine your own pre-conceptions and assumptions and in the words of the well known quote "Consider I pray thee, whether in the bowels of Christ you are wrong brother".
What you are not entitled to do, Banksie et al, is to stop the majority elected party from implementing the platform it was elected on.
But then Belge (aka Algernon) it's entirely possible that that audience is in a small minority of the NZ population and that most people are climate sceptics, atheists or agnostics. Certainly if you follow Western public opinion polls climate concerns have gone from an issue in the top few concerns to only being mentioned very low down in voters concerns. The fact that a few nutters are quite hysterical about it, does not mean it is a top issue or has majority support. Its fair to say that most of the electorate wish it would go away or they could each give $10 to solve but if you gave them a choice of a better house or a DOC with 100,000 employees they would choose a better house, health, education, more leisure & & every time over wildly exaggerated environmental concerns. Take fracking, been going on in Taranaki for 10 years with no ill effects and may have caused one or two minor tremors overseas of about 2.5. Anyone who lives in Christchurch can tell you can't even feel that! Nor has there been any water poisoning in Taranaki or poisonous chemical spills in Taranaki. Its a boondoggle.
Certainly Labour people are encouraging early voting, and it should favour the left, as some of their voters are less mobile.
But I'm very worried about the new National Party video I was directed to on the web, I think this could put a dent in someone's chances.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6WUYzLaEOo
My wish list for Tax cuts.
How about eliminating the first step of 10.5% making all income up to $14000 tax free.
Changing 2cnd step (currently 14000 to 48000 at 17.5%) to become 14,000 to 50,000 at 17.5%
Then all income above 50,000 to be at 33%.
I'm a simple soul, and that's simple and workable.
That's well within the govt's ability with predicted surplus, and benefits the lower paid more than the higher paid.
That should suit everyone except those simpletons who would rather the govt. tax someone else higher then spend that to buy them food for their kids etc.
FP, it's a small difference between 33% and 39%, and they'll still engage tax accountants at 33%. Tax scales might have more than three steps, but there are lookup tables for that, and it doesn't impact most people. You are being disingenuous again, if you think that the lowest paid wouldn't pay any taxes under your scheme. They will of course be paying GST on most things, fuel and energy taxes, etc.
But I do think that the current nil threshold for income tax is crazy. Decades ago it was $3,000, and with inflation it's probably now near $14,000 equivalent as you say. This would let businesses pay students with holiday jobs, cash in hand, no PAYE issues. At the moment, they are being taxed as though they were going to earn that money all through the year. Most of them probably don't claim back the tax portion they are owed, by doing an annual return. I always claimed, good practice if you have gaps in income during the year.
p.s. I didn't think some of you would like the video. It's mean, but accurate though.
Three polls in three days - all put National governing alone - now that would be enough to put Cunliffe off going to the All Blacks match. On the other hand he's down the West Coast propping up his support there. If Labour were to be dumped by the Coasters it would be like the Pope being thrown out of Rome. Today we will vote and my wife assures me she already has enough elastic. Having difficulty rating all the slow horses today.
Yes, I agree Belgarion, MVT has scary opinions. Maybe it is a National MP trait.
On TV3's "The Nation" just now, David Parker and Bill English were being interviewed on the economy. David did a great job. I'm very pleased he's well up in the Labour camp.
Bill English, on the other hand, has no new policies for the economy, even though he was quizzed really hard about it. That must be the party line, stay the course. Too simple. Then he was asked several times if he personally felt that the access of private Labour Party details from their website, including private credit card details, by a National party employee, was wrong. He refused to answer that question. Refused! but not in so many words. Le batard!
Well Algernon how are you today?
The platform that like all other democracies we are governed by parties elected by General Elections, in our case every 3 years. The exception is Referenda and force majeure Revolutions (not relevant in our case). We are not governed by public opinion polls, either scientific or unscientific (the ones running on the Internet such as Compass TV1).
It is also more complicated than you make out, every issue needs to be weighted by the importance that the public attaches to it - global warming for example has plunged and plunged over several years in the importance that the public attach to it. So if there are say 20 issues and the public puts asset sales at 19 and global warming at 20 then the fact that a bare majority might be against asset sales at a particular point in time is fairly meaningless.
In any case the asset sale floats of 49% of the shares, leaving 51% in public ownership and control, have gone off successfully, there is no visible agitation for the return of Mighty River Power to total government ownership and in any case Cunliffe says he can't afford to buy it back so it is effectively a dead issue. So Algernon, you need to find some LIVE issues.
No, didn't read the email. Got a link?
Sounds a bit like government by referendum to me. Maybe you should vote conservative! I expect governments to lead and sometimes make decisions that the majority don't agree with. With that logic there would be no waitangi tribunal, gay sex would still be illegal and we could still smack our children.
Sorry, I thought you were referring to some other email. Yes, sure did read it hence my original post. Thought it was hilarious and yet another example of the Labour election debacle.
Also saw that Matt McCarten has been emailing Whaleoil as well but David doesn't think it's necessary to release those emails. It just gets better and better!
No got it from the radio live site
Ok, here's one for EZ, Belge/Algernon has become even more boring than usual.
From today's Press pC17 - "NZ climbing ladder on competitiveness"
"NZ has improved its global competitiveness ranking and extended its lead over Australia, according to an annual survey by the Word Economic Forum.
The country is ranked 17th on the Global Competitiveness Index, up one place from last year when it broke into the top 20 for the first time. This is NZ's highest position to date, and represents an overall improvement of 8 places since 2012.
In contrast Australia's highly restrictive labour markets continued to drag on the country's competitiveness ranking, which slipped well short of the 15th position it occupied in 2009."
There's a lot more to discomfit the Labour grovelers but I have to nick off to tennis right now. Somebody might like to paste a link otherwise I'll do it later.
salut! le Commandant.
Check it out if you like but it was from the radio live site.
As to the national party thing, no way! I'll give them my party vote this time but it's more anti Labour than pro national. Its obvious now that the decision to get rid of David Shearer has cost them the election. Maybe next time when cunliffe is history...
You have to laugh at Craig banging on about binding referendums. He gives the example of the number of MPs. a perfect example of why govts. should govern. not the great unwashed. Fact is when MMP has been voted for (twice) the punters are voting for 120 MPs. 5 minutes later they sign petitions to reduce the number they've just approved. Another fact - we have fewer MPs now per capita than at any previous time. The only good thing about Craig is it may mean national do not have to negotiate or coalesce with Winston First after the election, which might give us an unstable govt.; particularly with his ridiculous and quite unworkable 'bottom lines'. There's probably not enough baubles in National's war chest to drown them all.
Not sure who I prefer, at least Winnie's a known quantity, unlike Craig. Might be being a little presumptuous here because dotcom's still got his bomb to release the week before voting. You never know, key might be an al quaeda sleeper agent. Anything less and it's going to be a big yawn!
A known quantity indeed. That's the worry; arrogant as hell to negotiate with. Neither main party would consider his demands over GST, which of course are a 'bottom line'. He's got a couple of others that couldn't work, so has Craig, but I think Craig's lot might be easier or more 'malleable'.
Do you mean this link MVT?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/n...ectid=11119356
My take on the rise of three positions to overtake Australia on average, is that National have effectively clamped down on wages by setting signals to have more unemployed, higher external debt, and Australia has been paying better wages for many years. The NZ Initiative predictably applauded the result.
But later on in the article they and Business NZ state that to further improve our position, we need more skilled people, stronger links between business and education providers.
R&D tax credits for all SMEs, the KiwiBuild programme (training, skills, tooling up), and probably many other Labour policies, will help in this regard. Maybe in the short term, higher wages will reduce competitiveness, but we need to be exporting higher value goods, and you don't tend to do that on low wages.
In any case, this particular metric doesn't look at homelessness, unemployment levels, GDP per capita, budget deficits, poverty lines, changes in external borrowing, the number of SMEs, the number of manufacturers, all of which have gotten worse since National took office. The Crown has also achieved a lower net asset value since 2008. 6 years, and we've gone backwards.
Maybe National do need to crow about anything which has the slightest chance of being an improvement.
Thanks for the down-date Belgarion. That video I posted earlier - Labour people have been having a good look at it - all driven by social media, the viewing count has gone from 2,000 to over 4,000 today.
Perhaps prompted by the glancing hit on David Cunliffe over the CGT, Labour have updated data on their website. Here's a link. https://www.labour.org.nz/sites/defa..._gains_tax.pdf
Your private home is never subject to CGT, even if you leave it to children, who then live in it. If they choose to rent it out, and sell later, they'll need to pay CGT from roughly the time they took possession of it. If the bach stays in the family, it's still not subject to CGT. No other country adds the family home into a CGT, take note FP and Belgarion. That will not happen. The rate has been kept low at 15% because it's recognised that there is a risk in holding assets like this, and there will be no attempt to index capital gains with inflation. It has been problematic in other countries like Australia, too complex. This means that, yes, the capital gain that you could be taxed on with a CGT, will generally be partly due to inflation, but the tax rate is low to help take that into account.
Jeez, Belg, I don't think I'm in Winston's demographic yet! No, its party vote National, electorate vote Maori Party (just because I'm not that enamoured with the local National MP).
Re dirty politics, why didn't Nicky Hager, Whaledump et al release the information when they obtained it rather than waiting until now? They obviously did it to derail National's re-election prospects. Well, big fail! I think most NZers see it as a pretty cynical ploy and although they got a scalp (Judith Collins, good riddance) we're back to talking about the differences between the parties, at last, and it's really no contest.
The Labour Party have been doing a lot of name-calling lately but it was very amusing to hear David Cunliffe talking about the CGT to Duncan Garner on Radio Live on Friday. When asked if they had talked to the IRD about the technical feasibility and capacity of the IRD to handle CGT he said yes, they had talked to the IRD and it was all good. Radio Live asked the IRD about it and received a response from them saying that it had never been discussed with the Labour Party (obviously the IRD are all closet Nat supporters)! Cunliffe is turning into a joke. He proposed the CGT tax 3 years ago, has absolutely no idea how it is going to be implemented and is making it up as he goes. Sad!
National must love negotiating with Peter Dunne, second after second he will hold firm. He has many principles,and if National doesn't like them he has others. But at the end of the day there is only one thing dear old Mr Commonsense requires... a Cabinet Ministers salary.
Are we not lucky to live in a land and be governed by people with such intelligence,integrity and talent
Nonsense, eh? Not too sure why you'd think I would make that up. Anyway, see for yourself. Listen to it 3.45 in on the Friday 5.15 Radio live audio.
Cameron Slater complained to police in January this year about a DOS attack so I presumed they got the info around that time.
Looks like John didn't fix NZ after all, according to Aroha that is
Nice story, for Aroha but indictment on John
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/poli...Close-flees-NZ
Actually it's a monster coup for John and the National Party.
First of all the overall movement between Oz and NZ has reversed to a flow to NZ so she's horribly and visibly exposed as a minority. Second it's an excellent result - if people decide not to vote for National and then permanently emigrate to Oz then National will be laughing all the way to the bank!
Yes, I read that too, W69, and I was going to make a comment on it. So John used Aroha for PR, sorted out a short-term job for her mother, but had nothing to do with her as far as keeping in touch with what happened to her, after the trip to Waitangi. If nothing else, he must have been well aware how useful she was in his campaign.
But now, years later, she is on far better pay in Aussie, in a job that I suspect relies more on a keenness to work, than tertiary education. She would not have achieved as much in NZ, most likely. If she has married an Australian, she won't see many of the family schooling issues that bring NZers back home when they have children wanting to get tertiary training.
And all of her normal costs: petrol, rent, food are cheaper over there, yet her pay is $38 an hour. Maybe that's why NZ is more 'competitive' than Australia? Because most NZers have to work very hard just to stay in the same place.
Also noted in the SST: telling comments from Chris Trotter in his column, while alongside, Matthew Hooton tries to pull the wool over our eyes about Nicky Hager's book being good for National's chances.
The main article says more about the rise of the bloggers. I've just been given "Totalitaria" by Ian Wishart for father's day, all about how new technology and IT are giving governments more power than ever before. Should be a good read.
Another view posted today by David Farrar, with a few additional facts which don't show the journalist (Simon Day)or the SST in a good light:
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2014/09/re...ck_the_pm.html
Farrar would be better off commenting on how to rein in female streakers at the rugby ....far more important ...somebody could have got hurt
You could hardly blame the paper. I'm sure they publish quite a lot without checking full facts or they'd never get the damn thing printed.
Interesting that so many people seem to have no interest in all the garbage flowing around at the moment judging by the numbers voting every day. I voted early just to stick it to Dotcom before his big announcement. It was either that or fly to Germany with a container load of money and tell all the Germans I want to change their government.
The polls are telling us that National supporter think such behaviour and abuse of power and process is all fine. But then most National supporters are doing what they're told by their "dear leaders" and not reading the book. Lambs to the slaughter.
And you'd be one I'd guess, Snapper. I.e. accepting its all a "left wing conspiracy" and not educating yourself, trusting to "dear leader". Yup - This is how banana republics form. And, dare I say it, how the National Socialist German Workers' Party got to seize power.
Come on Belg, what do they say about arguments that bring up the Nazi thing? Even if John Key grew a moustache and got a no. 1 haircut I still don't reckon he'd look too much like Adolf.
Hi Snapper
Well for this Social Democrat I have just read something which gives me some comfort and contentment amongst all the gloomy electoral forecasts for our side, and it came from an unexpected source.
The Scottish Independence Referendum polls are narrowing dramatically with the latest poll showing a majority will vote in favour for independence. There are two things which make me happy about this outcome if it transpires
1. If the Scottish electorate votes in favour then its all over for British PM David Cameron as Tory Party grandees are, according to the Times, preparing to roll him due to mismanagement of the "Scottish Issue".
Should/when this occurs poor old John Key wont have anyone as his photo op buddy anymore( apparently David Cameron is his friend, although I am not sure whether anyone has told David Cameron.
2 I will be entitled to a Scottish Passport (Scottish Grandmother)
Cross my heart, Belg, not me. I have seen all three blogs (Whaleoil, The Standard and Kiwiblog).Occassionally the comments can be a bit off but generally no worse than Stuff or the Herald. You can just about smell the bitter defeatism at The Standard(their opinion of the average voter is rapidly heading south) while there is a quite a lot of (maybe premature) gloating in the other two.
Interesting to analyse the like / dislike on the comments on this post. The National supporters like all the comments with few dislikes for those in favour. The one reply not agreeing with Farrar has no likes and plenty of dislikes. Looks to me as if the there is an organised National supporters group to actively discredit any opposition against National. Not just with Farrar but with all published media. Just politics I suppose
westerly
This is interesting for all the Key supporters;http://www.thevinnyeastwoodshow.com/...#ixzz3CPMO97DQ
Duplicate 1234567
Just another smear blogg; how accurate is it really. However its great to see the Ombudsman looking into Key and Co
Pressure on PM's office to name names
r |
UPDATED 6:50am: The Prime Minister may be forced to disclose who in his office was briefed about the release of SIS information to blogger Cameron Slater.
Last month Newstalk ZB released papers that indicated Mr Key had been directly briefed about the 2011 release that centred on information about SIS briefings given to then Labour leader Phil Goff.
The Prime Minister and former SIS director Warren Tucker then said the briefings were to the Prime Minister's Office, not Mr Key directly - however Mr Key's refused to name who was briefed.
Newstalk ZB's asked the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate this decision, a request the Chief Ombudsman has agreed to.
They are seeking a response from the Prime Minister by the end of this week.
And the Chief Ombudsman is also poised to look at the activities of the offices of both John Key and former Cabinet Minister Judith Collins and email correspondence passed on by them to right wing bloggers.That investigation will centre on information passed on directly, as well as information passed from both offices to National Party staffer Jason Ede.
Labour Leader David Cunliffe believes the official should be named.
"Given that we have significant information in the public domain about a particular Prime Ministerial staffer who appears to have ben actively engaged in abuses of ministerial power. At that point it becomes a matter of public interest."
Mr Cunliffe thinks an investigation is a good idea and is critical of how the Government's put Jason Ede in a Parliamentary Services role to circumvent the Official Information Act."Mr Ede has been in the Prime Minister's office for years he has been intermittently involved in Mr Key's black operations network and the New Zealand public deserves to know the extent of that and the involvement of the Prime Minister in it
Answered this on the other forum. And I will offer a FURTHER $1,000 to anyone who can show proof that I belong to any organised group of National supporters trying to undermine the left. For goodness sake, look in the mirror - there are more lemmings in the left than there are candidates. I know of several Labour stalwarts who will not vote this time, simply because of the rubbish that is out there, waiting to invade parliament on the coat tails of Labour.
Money solves everything ehhh. Whale Oil is asking for Donationslol