The Government is gearing up for its Budget this week, but the ACT Party has got in first with a controversial alternative.
It wants to sell Kiwibank, KiwiRail and the superfund, and ACT leader Jamie Whyte chose The Nation to announce a drastic tax plan.
The minor party leaders arrived at TV3 ready with their wisdom and one-liners, but little did they know that ACT's new kid on the block, Dr Whyte, was planning to steal their thunder.
NZ First leader Winston Peters said he wouldn't be revealing his party's tax rate proposals at this stage.
"No one will announce their rates right now but we'll do it in the election campaign," he said.
However Dr Whyte said he had no reason to wait.
"I don't know why Winston says no one would announce their numbers today; I'm announcing mine today. Those numbers are: we can have a top rate of tax of 24 percent," he said.
But that's just for starters. He wants to get it down to a flat rate of 17.5 percent.
Then he's got a long list of other targets in his sights, including: selling off all state-owned enterprises and the superannuation fund; scrapping interest-free student loans; getting rid of subsidies to attract big-budget movies; and abolishing the Government departments for tourism, women's affairs and Pacific Island affairs.
Those bits though, he saved for after his first televised debate.
"There's some really controversial things in that and the others didn't get a chance to have a go at him. If they had known about it he would have come under much more fire," says political commentator Linda Clark.
Not that the old hands had given the new boy an easy first ride.
"We could go on all day listening to this drivel," said Mr Peters.
Mana co-vice president John Minto told Dr Whyte his policies would help the rich and hurt the poor.
"Here you are Jamie, coming here with policies to make the rich richer and put even more burden on families with low incomes," said Mr Minto.
Dr Whyte stayed philosophical about the attacks.
"Some of those other experienced politicians are better at throwing around abusive terms like junkyard dog and so on," he said.
"I've been called names before."
So has Mr Minto, but probably not a racist.
Yet United Future leader Peter Dunne told Mr Minto, "You're describing a racist policy," in reference to Mana's proposal to ban foreign home buyers.
Mr Peters also wants a ban – this time on migrants settling in Auckland.
"You have a smart policy on immigration that says to live here you must live five years somewhere else in the country," he said.
But Dr Whyte rejected both proposed bans.
"It's really outrageous what they are trying to do – take over your life," he said.
3 News
source: newshub archive
