NZCPR Weekly: Jacinda's Vindictive Capital Gains Tax

Dear NZCPR Reader,   

This week we outline the Tax Working Group’s capital gains tax proposal and the implications for New Zealanders, our NZCPR Guest Commentator Dr Edward Hudson explains why the claims of growing inequality in New Zealand are wrong, and our poll asks whether you support the capital gains tax proposed by Jacinda Ardern’s Tax Working Group.

*To read the newsletter click HERE.
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GWPF Newsletter: U.S. Democrats Won’t Back ‘Green New Deal’ In ‘Sham’ Vote

White House Recruits Researchers For ‘Adversarial’ Climate Science Review

In this newsletter:

1) U.S. Democrats Won’t Back ‘Green New Deal’ In ‘Sham’ Vote
E&E News, 26 February 2019 
 
2) White House Recruits Researchers For ‘Adversarial’ Climate Science Review
Science Magazine, 25 February 2019

Clive Bibby: News isn't news anymore - at least not the simple reported kind!

Like most political junkies, waiting in anticipation of reading the conclusions in the US Special Counsel's report of his two year investigation into the Trump/Russia collusion issue, l fear that the detail will somehow be lost in translation or by deliberate attempts to distort the findings. Many of those with responsibility to report the truth are already second guessing the outcome and developing strategies to present their own version of the facts.

That isn't journalism in its finest form. It is "sensationalism" bordering on deliberate misrepresentation that has no place on the front pages or in the news bulletins of the major media outlets. Sadly, it is what we have been dished up on a daily basis for the last two years and so perhaps we should expect more of the same.

GWPF Newsletter: Half Of Europe No Longer Wants Wind Energy

Wind energy: 12 EU nations 'failed to install a single wind turbine' last year

In this newsletter:

1) Half Of Europe No Longer Wants Wind Energy
CNBC News, 21 February 2019
 
2) The Supposedly Impartial BBC Should Hang Its Head In Shame At Its Relentless Bias
Christopher Booker, The Sunday Telegraph, 24 February 2019 

GWPF Newsletter: Top German MP Warns Of ‘Dictatorship Of Climate Law’

Climate War Splits German Government As Climate Law Is Postponed Indefinitely

In this newsletter:

1) Top German MP Warns Of ‘Dictatorship Of Climate Law’
Deutschlandfunk, 23 February 2019
 
2) Climate War Splits German Government As Climate Law Is Postponed Indefinitely
Andreas Mihm, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 19 February 2019

Melanie Phillips: The Real Symmetry of Extremism now Threatening British Politics

Both Theresa May’s government and the Labour Party leadership are now being threatened with a haemorrhage of their MPs. Both groups poised to revolt are posing as the beleaguered custodians of the centre ground which has been taken over by extremists in both parties.

Seriously?

Let’s boil down to essentials just what they’re all saying. The Times (£) reports:

“About 100 members of the Brexit Delivery Group, which comprises Remain and Leave Tory MPs, warned the chief whip Julian Smith in a letter that they were prepared to force the government to delay Brexit if Mrs May could not reach a deal.”

GWPF Newsletter: After El Nino Bleaching, Coral Reefs Begin To Recover

Carbon Cut Apocalypse: Climate Policies Threaten To Kill Australia’s Economy

In this newsletter:

1) After El Nino Bleaching, Coral Reefs Begin To Recover
Maui Now, 22 January 2019 
 
2) Carbon Cut Apocalypse: Climate Policies Threaten To Kill Australia’s Economy
The Australian, 21 February 2019 

Frank Newman: Tax Working Group report

Yesterday, the government's Tax Working Group (TWG), headed by former Labour Finance Minister Sir Michael Cullen, presented its first Final Report. Pretty much what they said they would deliver was delivered so the government now has an "expert" report to justify their campaign to introduce a capital gains tax.

The key points of the TWG recommendation are:

• Capital gains on the sale of investment property would be treated as income and taxed at a taxpayer's marginal rate of income (which in effect will be 33%).  This is higher than the 15% rate Labour campaigned on, and would be the highest CGT rate in the world.
• As an offset, income tax will be reduced by extending the 10.5% tax rate band, which is expected to deliver an income tax cut worth between $420 and $595 a year to the majority of taxpayers.
• Investment asset values would not be adjusted for inflation. In effect tax would be payable on gains that are not "real".
• The family home, personal possessions and artwork will be exempt.
• Investment values would be taken from the date the tax comes into effect, which would be 1 April 2021. That would require all investment assets to be valued.
• In some cases there would be "rollover" relief, for example where the seller of a business reinvests in a similar business.

Mike Hosking: Govt's wellbeing budget a looming disaster

So as part of the Prime Minister's ongoing dream of living in a land of lollipops, landholding and general kumbaya, we have the mechanism used by the Treasury to put a monetary value on everything, despite the common-sense fact you can't put a monetary value on everything.

That's why they have sayings like "money can't buy experience", or that was "priceless". According to the Treasury, none of that's possible.

This is, of course, for the so-called "wellbeing budget".

It is an idealist's fantasy, it's the workings of hand wringers who need to be consoled by the concept that as a result of any given action someone bursts into a smile, or song, or both.

GWPF Newsletter: EU Ready To Give Up Climate Pledge For US Trade Deal

White House Readies Panel To Assess If Climate Change Poses A National Security Threat

In this newsletter:

1) Forget Paris: EU Ready To Give Up Climate Pledge For US Trade Deal
Global Warming Policy Forum, 20 February 2019 
 
2) White House Readies Panel To Assess If Climate Change Poses A National Security Threat
The Washington Post, 20 February 2019 

NZCPR Weekly: The Art of Manipulation

Dear NZCPR Reader,   

This week we examine Parliament’s first debate of 2019 and consider what the Prime Minister’s address, National’s response, and some dangerous ideas promoted by the Green Party tell us about the year ahead, our NZCPR Guest Commentator Justin Haskins explains that the Soviet-style Green New Deal – an extremist Democratic Party proposal that James Shaw praised in his speech and is clearly considering for New Zealand – would create economic chaos, and our poll asks whether you agree with Labour and the Greens that the 2017 election result showed a majority of New Zealanders voted for radical change.

*To read the newsletter click HERE.
*To register for the NZCPR Weekly mailing list, click HERE.  

GWPF Newsletter: German Climate Law Put Off As Government Splits Deepen

Angela Merkel Points To Russia For Sudden Interest Of European Youth In Climate Issues

In this newsletter:

1) German Climate Law Put Off As Government Splits Deepen
Clean Energy Wire, 19 February 2019
 
2) Merkel Points To Russia For Sudden Interest Of European Youth In Climate Issues
Daily Sabah, 16 February 2019

Bob Edlin: The Treaty and partnership are invoked as TPK goes out to promote Māori wellbeing

The Coalition Government is making solid progress on improving the wellbeing of New Zealanders and the Budget will outline further work, Finance Minister Grant Robertson enthused today.

Responding to the Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report, he said “the scale of the challenge this Government inherited means that we won’t finish our work in one year”.

Well, no.  Jacinda Ardern said something similar in the Prime Minister’s statement, presented to Parliament yesterday.

GWPF Newsletter: Bill Gates Slams Unreliable Wind & Solar Energy

Australian Met Office Accused Of Man-Made Climate Change

In this newsletter:

1) Bill Gates Slams Unreliable Wind & Solar Energy
Stop These Things, 18 February 2019 
 
2) Australian Met Office Accused Of Man-Made Climate Change
Graham Lloyd, The Australian, 16 February 2019 

Frank Newman: Auckland turns down and OCR unchanged

Three years after the tide turned on Auckland house prices, the headlines are finally announcing the new reality.

Only those with a vested interest in seeing prices higher are talking the Auckland market up at the moment. Of the independent commentators the optimists are expecting Auckland house prices to remain flat. Those with a less positive disposition are talking in terms of falls like Sydney and Melbourne where the decline from peak to trough is expected to be between 15% to 20% according to the ANZ.

Jason Pye: The Green New Deal Is Communist Manifesto, 21st Century

A 21st-century take on Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels’ Communist Manifesto was introduced in the form of a nonbinding resolution introduced by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.). The resolution effectively does nothing other than express the sense that Congress should pass a so-called “Green New Deal” whose wholly unattainable goals would almost certainly wreak havoc on the economy and drive the United States further into debt.

The term “insane” understates how bad the ideas presented in this resolution really are. Both the Green New Deal resolution and the FAQ document released with it read like something concocted in a drunken haze in a college dorm room. Although it’s certainly imaginative, it’s not remotely close to serious public policy. Perhaps that explains why Rep. Ocasio-Cortez removed the documents from her congressional website.

GWPF Newsletter: UK Government Between Industry & Children's Climate Crusade

Middle-Class ‘Green’ Militants Encourage School Children To Demonstrate For Eco-Socialism

In this newsletter:

1) Theresa May Urged To Back UK Shale Revolution As Company Discovers Massive Shale Gas Field In East Midlands
The Sun, 15 February 2019
 
2) UK Government Rejects New Fracking Operation
Financial Times, 12 February 2019

Melanie Phillips: The EU - an economic basket-case with the instincts of the mafia

The EU’s Brexit negotiators (who appear to believe that until this moment their knuckle-dusters have been concealed) clearly think that now’s the moment to take off the gloves.

Faced with Theresa May asking them ever so nicely to re-open negotiations to get rid of that troublesome Irish backstop, they have not only said no. They are reportedly now doubling down on their intransigence in the belief that this will force the Brits to come crawling back on their knees. 

There is the prospect of a ‘temporary no-deal’ scenario. This hypothesis — which is not without legal difficulties — would see both sides fail to secure a deal or agree an extension by March 29. The UK would then crash out into a period of severe disruption, a harsh dose of reality that some EU negotiators believe would force it back to the table, more willing to accept the original withdrawal deal and the backstop.

Bob Edlin: Studies find exam results turn to pot when students turn to cannabis

Green Party MP Chloe Swarbrick chided the National Party on its drugs policy earlier this year but said she hoped its involvement in public debate was positive.

Her comments followed National announcing deputy leader Paula Bennett’s appointment as the party’s first drug reform spokesperson and Bennett’s thoroughly reasonable insistence that she wanted to know more about the implications of legalising marijuana –

 “I want to know, ‘What does it mean for the illicit drug trade? What does it mean for drug driving? How do we meet our goals of being smoke free if we’re saying it’s okay to have a joint?’ “

GWPF Newsletter: Green Taxes Are Killing Europe’s Economy, Sir Jim Radcliffe Warns

Democrats’ ‘Green New Deal’ Will Turn America Into Venezuela

In this newsletter:

1) Green Taxes Are Killing Europe’s Economy, Sir Jim Ratcliffe Warns
Financial Times, 12 February 2019 

2) Walter Russel Mead: The Incredible Shrinking Europe
The Wall Street Journal, 12 February 2019 

NZCPR-Weekly: Waitangi Week Messages

Dear NZCPR Reader,   

This week we review the funding promises that were made around Waitangi Day and explain why race-based initiative are not the answer to alleviating disadvantage, our NZCPR Guest Commentary is the speech that Dr Don Brash prepared but was not given the opportunity to deliver at Waitangi, and our poll asks whether you agree with Labour’s use of race-based funding.

*To read the newsletter click HERE.
*To register for the NZCPR Weekly mailing list, click HERE.  

Karl du Fresne: Labour and NZ First - a shared fondness for pork-barrel politics

In a memorably pungent turn of phrase, former Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox said of Maori support for Labour in the 2017 election that it was like a battered wife going back to her abuser.

Okay, she was bitter at Maori voters turning against her party. Sour grapes, her critics would have said. But you could see where she was coming from.

Labour has traditionally commanded support from Maori, dating back to its alliance with the Ratana Church in 1936.

Brian Gaynor: Houses and shares deliver a decade of growth

Houses or shares, which is the best investment?

This is a recurring question in New Zealand, although the two asset classes are difficult to compare because they have totally different characteristics, particularly in terms of leverage, maintenance costs and income flows.

Nevertheless, the figures in the table show that New Zealand house prices appreciated 1.8 per cent in 2018 while Auckland prices rose by just 0.1 per cent. These figures are compiled by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ).

GWPF Newsletter: The Oldest Eco-Scare Goes Up In Smoke

Green Madness: UK Government Accused Of Killing Shale Revolution

In this newsletter:

1) The Oldest Eco-Scare Goes Up In Smoke
Lyman Stone, The Wall Street Journal, 7 February 2019
 

2) Germany Alone To Control Russian Gas Pipeline As France Caves In
EU Observer, 8 February 2019

Bob Edlin: The Trough Monitor - Waitangi Day handouts

The  Point of Order Trough Monitor,  which keeps a check on how taxpayers’ money is being invested, spent or given away by the Ardern Government, had a busy week in the run-up to Waitangi Day.

Some announcements seemed shamelessly pitched at pleasing Māori voters.  These included a $100 million fund to support Māori land development in the regions.

Regional Development Minister Shane Jones brayed about the Government stepping in “where the banks fear to tread” - but won’t bankers invest anywhere if they are reasonably confident  they will be backing a winner?

Bryce Edwards: Political Roundup - Fixing Treaty ignorance in politics and schools

2019’s Waitangi commemorations will be mostly remembered for two debates – whether the Prime Minister should be able to recite the detail of the Treaty of Waitangi, and whether the teaching of the Treaty and colonial history in New Zealand should be compulsory.

PM’s unawareness of the Treaty Articles

Jacinda Ardern’s awkward answers about the Treaty of Waitangi were uncomfortable watching, not just for supporters of the Government and a more Treaty-driven politics, but also for anyone wary of being put on the spot about contentious issues. You can watch the encounter here, where TVNZ’s Maiki Sherman asks the PM what the articles of the Treaty say – see: Jacinda Ardern fumbles over what Treaty of Waitangi articles say – 'Article One? On the spot?'

Frank Newman: Taxing issues

Tax has become a topic of hot debate. The precursor is the impending release of the first Final Report of the Tax Working Group (TWG), headed by former Labour Finance Minister, Sir Michael Cullen. That report is now with the Minister of Finance, Grant Robertson.

It's pretty much a given that the report will recommend a capital gains tax (CGT); that was the brief given to the TWG by the Labour led government. It's the possible finer details that are attracting a lot of commentary, and criticism. Commentators are rightly pointing out the many practical limitations of a capital gains tax.

GWPF Newsletter: World Cooling – But Rapid Warming Forecast

GWPF Readers Trounce Met Office In 2018 Temperature Prediction Competition

In this newsletter:

1) World Cooling – But Rapid Warming Forecast
GWPF Observatory, 7 February 2019

2) GWPF Readers Trounce Met Office In 2018 Temperature Prediction Competition
Global Warming Policy Forum, 8 February 2019

NZCPR Weekly: Aotearoa New Zealand

Dear NZCPR Reader,   

This week we reflect on how deliberate misrepresentations regarding the Treaty of Waitangi are being used to gain privilege, our NZCPR Guest Commentator Bob Edlin outlines not only the extent to which this Government has been splashing the cash ahead of Waitangi Day, but also how serious constitutional changes are being made without informed public debate, and our poll asks whether you would support changing the name of our country to Aotearoa New Zealand.

*To read the newsletter click HERE.
*To register for the NZCPR Weekly mailing list, click HERE.  

Signing the Treaty of Waitangi - February 6, 1840.

GWPF Newsletter: India Opens 52 New Coal Mines To Achieve Universal Electrification

Indian Govt announces it has achieved universal household electrification

In this newsletter:

1) India Opens 52 New Coal Mines To Achieve Universal Electrification
Times of India, 23 January 2019
 
2) India Just Achieved Universal Household Electrification
Press Trust of India, 20 January 2019 

Barend Vlaardingerbroek: What the ‘yellow vests’ tell us about today’s Western liberal democracies

Mostly ‘ordinary’ people on ‘ordinary’ incomes who can’t make ends meet. Their problem is that they’re too ‘ordinary’ to matter to today’s socioeconomic elite who are preoccupied with trendy social causes like getting more women and fashionable ethnics into high-salaried positions.

The ‘yellow vest’ movement caught many by surprise. They were even more surprised when it became clear that this spontaneous uprising was no flash in the pan – despite lacking any central control and coordination, it went on and on.

GWPF Newsletter - Empty Planet: The Shock Of Global Population Decline

Nearly One Million Britons Cancel BBC TV Licence

In this newsletter:

1) Empty Planet: The Shock Of Global Population Decline
David Goodhart, The Sunday Times, 3 February 2019 
 
2) The Price Of Bias: Nearly One Million Britons Cancel BBC TV Licence
Daily Mail, 2 February 2019

GWPF Newsletter: New Observations Call AMOC-Climate Disaster Predictions Into Question

Ocean Circulation Observations Could Have Major Consequences For Climate Science

In this newsletter:

1) New Observations Call AMOC-Climate Disaster Predictions Into Question
Science News, 31 January 2019

2) New Ocean Circulation Observations Could Have Major Consequences For Climate Science
The Washington Post, 1 February 2019

Dr Tim Ball and Tom Harris: Record Cold Forces Rethink on Global Warming

Headlines around the world are reporting exceptionally frigid conditions and unusually high levels of snowfall in recent weeks. They tout these events as records, but few people understand how short the record actually is -- usually less than 50 years, a mere instant in Earth’s 4.6-billion year history. The reality is that, when viewed in a wider context, there is nothing unusual about current weather patterns.

Despite this fact, the media -- directly, indirectly, or by inference -- often attribute the current weather to global warming. Yes, they now call it climate change. But that is because activists realized, around 2004, that the warming predicted by the computer models on which the scare is based was not actually happening. Carbon dioxide (CO2) levels continued to increase, but the temperature stopped increasing. So, the evidence no longer fit the theory. English biologist Thomas Huxley commented on this dilemma over a century ago:  "The great tragedy of science -- the slaying of a beautiful hypothesis by an ugly fact."

GWPF Newsletter: Will Solar Cycle In 200 Years Put The Brakes On Warming?

Electric Car Subsidies Largely Benefit ‘Rich’ Tesla And Jaguar Drivers

In this newsletter:

1) Will Quietest Solar Cycle In 200 Years Put The Brakes On Warming?
Frank Bosse und Fritz Vahrenholt, No Tricks Zone, 30 January 2019 
 
2) News Media Rushes To Tie Record-Breaking Cold On Global Warming
The Daily Caller, 30 January 2019