Robert MacCulloch: PM Hipkins goes pro-business on economics

When Hipkins became PM he said he'd make economics and reducing the high cost-of-living his priorities, since people had tired of former PM Ardern's focus on non-economic, moral issues, symbolized by the "kindness" mantra. However, as costs soared, his promises on that front now look empty. Two crucial policies strongly supported by Finance Minister Robertson and Revenue Minister Parker, namely unemployment insurance & capital taxes, have now been shelved by the PM.

Heather du Plessis-Allan: Labour keep breaking their 'no new taxes' promise

 

I can't understand why Grant Robertson thinks proposing another tax on workers right now is a good idea.  

That is essentially what the unemployment insurance idea is; a tax.  

You can call it a levy or a contribution or whatever other euphemism you want to use but if you’re taking 1.39 percent out of a worker’s pay packet, it’s just going to feel like a tax. 

On a pay packet of $100K a year, that’s $1400 you’re losing. Every year.