The Future Fund failed by leaving a gaping hole with no explanation of how health, education and other necessities would be funded when the money currently going to them was funnelled into the Fund.
Its GP funding policy got less publicity than party leader Chris Hipkins’ not knowing about the launch. It also had no details on how much GPs would get and whether they could charge more than they were allocated.
Then came the leak of its capital gains tax policy which forced an early release.
The policy announcement carried what was supposed to be a sweetener – that money raised would be used to give everyone three free GP visits a year. The reason for that, carried in the media release, was that one in six people can’t afford to go to a GP.
That begged the obvious question – why fund the five of us who can afford to go to our GPs instead of targeting the ones who almost certainly need help for more than three consultations?
As for the tax itself – it’s aimed at commercial premises and any other houses but the family home, for now, but will be a stalking horse for fewer exclusions.
It won’t be adjusted for inflation so businesses will be taxed on Clayton’s gains – the value gain you get when you don’t really get a gain.
It shows Labour hasn’t learned from its mistakes in thinking that taxing more is better than spending less.
It shows a stark contrast between the two bigger parties – National is focussed on policies that will help the economy grow, Labour’s focus is on grabbing more from us.
Growth will be much more popular than the grab and the leak shows there is at least one person in Labour who knows that.
Then came the leak of its capital gains tax policy which forced an early release.
The policy announcement carried what was supposed to be a sweetener – that money raised would be used to give everyone three free GP visits a year. The reason for that, carried in the media release, was that one in six people can’t afford to go to a GP.
That begged the obvious question – why fund the five of us who can afford to go to our GPs instead of targeting the ones who almost certainly need help for more than three consultations?
As for the tax itself – it’s aimed at commercial premises and any other houses but the family home, for now, but will be a stalking horse for fewer exclusions.
It won’t be adjusted for inflation so businesses will be taxed on Clayton’s gains – the value gain you get when you don’t really get a gain.
It shows Labour hasn’t learned from its mistakes in thinking that taxing more is better than spending less.
It shows a stark contrast between the two bigger parties – National is focussed on policies that will help the economy grow, Labour’s focus is on grabbing more from us.
Growth will be much more popular than the grab and the leak shows there is at least one person in Labour who knows that.
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Ele Ludemann is a North Otago farmer and journalist, who blogs HERE - where this article was sourced.
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