Labour's remedy to National's tax swindle
Labour has launched a campaign against National’s GST increase to 15 per cent, announcing that Labour will remove GST from fresh fruit and vegetables.
Many families will be worse off after Prime Minister John Key broke his promise that he would not increase GST.
Most families will have their tax cuts gobbled up straight away by increased GST, price rises, and higher charges for services like ACC. The NZ Institute of Economic Research estimates around half of all households will end this year worse off than they were a year earlier as prices rise and wages stall.
But the top few per cent of New Zealanders will benefit hugely from National’s unfair tax switch. That’s not right and Labour will fix that.
Labour’s scheme to zero rate fresh fruit and vegetables is the first of the policies we will announce over coming months to help families get ahead and to build a stronger economy.
Removing GST from fresh fruit and vegetables will help people on low and middle incomes make up some of the ground they are losing under National.
A typical family of two adults, an adolescent and a five-year-old spends at least $42 a week on fruit and vegetables. They will save about $6 a week, or $300-$400 a year.
Kiwis need to be able to afford to make choices around the type of food they put in their supermarket shopping trolleys. Fresh fruit and vegetables can’t become luxury items because of the increasing cost of living.
Supporting valuable contribution of over 60s
Caption: Chris Hipkins with residents at the Heretaunga Oceania Home and Village at Silverstream. Also pictured is Hazel Furzey, 104 years old.
On 1 October I spent time with the residents at Shona McFarlane Rest Home and Heretaunga Oceania Home and Village in the Hutt Valley to mark International Day of the Older Person.
I am very much aware of the valuable contribution that older people in the Hutt Valley make to our way of life. We owe our current prosperity and way of life in no small measure to the contributions of our parents and grandparents.
However, I know that many older people in the Hutt Valley are feeling anxious over the possibility of cuts to services such as the SuperGold Card.
In past editions, I've mentioned the Information Kit for Over 60s, which sets out all of their entitlements and the services that are available to them. There is a lot of support available to our senior citizens, but so many people don't know what they can get.
As a reminder, copies of the Information Kit for Over 60s can be collected from Chris Hipkins’ electorate offices at 216 Main Street, Upper Hutt and 1195 High Street, Taita.
Mana by-election update
Parliament is currently in recess and I've been spending a bit of time helping to organise canvassing in Mana ahead of the by-election. As many of you will now be aware, the Labour candidate is Kris Faafoi.
I always enjoy getting out in the community and meeting the locals. It serves to remind me and my colleagues of why we got involved in politics.
The response to the Labour MPs in many has been very warm and welcoming. Although many of the local community members will be sad to see Winnie Laban go to take up a role as Pasifika Vice-Chancellor at Victoria University, they are also very enthusiastic towards Kris.
I would like to wish Kris Faafoi the best of luck in the upcoming campaign! If you're keen to come over and help us ensure that Kris retains the seat for Labour, please do let me know.
Back to top
|