Happy New Year – and a happy holiday (we trust) for Luxon’s ministers and their press secretaries, too
If the Government’s official website serves as a measure of ministerial activity, the Government is still on holiday.
- The Beehive press gang had a burst of action on December 22, when ministers announced –An expert advisory group is being established to provide the coalition Government;
- The government will extend financial support to more displaced homeowners affected by the severe weather events in late 2022 and early 2023;
- The government is delivering a $5.7million boost to emergency department security this summer, employing an extra 200 people to keep hospital EDs safe.
Latest from the Beehive
30 DECEMBER 2023
PM acknowledges life of Sir Michael Hardie Boys
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says he is saddened by the death yesterday of Sir Michael Hardie Boys, GNZM, GCMG, QSO, KStJ, PC.
Did some ministers make a New Year resolution to work harder?
Perhaps – but if that be so, their zeal was short-lived.
Two press statements were emailed to Point of Order on January 1.
Both were published by Scoop but were not posted on the Beehive website.
Government Ends ‘Ute Tax’
Monday, 1 January 2024, 11:59 am | New Zealand Government
The Coalition Government has ended the ‘Ute Tax’ and Clean Car Discount for all vehicles registered after 31 December 2023, marking a New Year’s victory for taxpayers, farmers, and tradies. “Scrapping the ‘Ute Tax’ as part of the National-ACT coalition … More >>
New Zealand Dairy Products Can Now Enter China Duty-free
Monday, 1 January 2024, 10:43 am | New Zealand Government
All New Zealand dairy products are now able to enter China duty free, with the end of safeguard duties on milk powder starting, Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. “In 2008, China agreed to remove all tariffs on dairy products in … More >>
The second of the two press statements drew attention to a significant economic accomplishment of a Labour-led government – the free trade agreement which was entered with China in 2008.
On 7 April 2022, the Upgrade to the New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement took effect.
On New Year’s Day, the Luxon government’s Trade and Agriculture Minister, Todd McClay, wanted us to know that all New Zealand dairy products can now enter China duty free.
In 2008, he noted, China had agreed to remove all tariffs on dairy products in the New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
The removal of safeguard duties on milk powder as of 1 January 2024 marked the final liberalisation of dairy access under the FTA.
The removal of those remaining tariffs was expected to deliver additional annual tariff savings of about $350 million.
China accounted for 28 per cent of this country’s goods exports in 2022.
New Zealand is China’s largest supplier of dairy.
New Zealand’s annual dairy exports to China have averaged 1.4 million tonnes (NZ$8 billion) each year over the past three years, around half of which was milk powder.
More information on the New Zealand-China FTA and how it benefits New Zealand businesses can be found at mfat.govt.nz/chinafta.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced the Coalition Government has ended the ‘Ute Tax’ and Clean Car Discount for all vehicles registered after 31 December 2023.
He hailed this as a New Year’s victory for taxpayers, farmers, and tradies.
Brown said:
“The previous government’s scheme was inequitable and fiscally irresponsible, offering subsidies to individuals buying electric vehicles, while imposing taxes on hardworking farmers and tradies who have little choice about the type of vehicle they need for work.
“The scheme was designed to achieve fiscal neutrality, with the ‘Ute Tax’ charges covering the rebates and administration costs. However, more was paid out in rebates than was received in charges, with taxpayers footing the bill.”
The Coalition Government is committed to increasing the uptake of electric vehicle ownership by supercharging EV charging infrastructure, which Brown insists is one of the most significant barriers for people taking up an EV.
The ‘Ute Tax’ and applications for the Clean Car Discount ended for all vehicles registered from 11:59 pm on 31 December 2023.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
No comments:
Post a Comment