Scoop Audio: Phil Goff On Looming Tax Policy Launch etc etc

Labour leader Phil Goff addressed the following issues at his Monday press conference:
- tax policy - to be announced Thursday (Goff careful not to reveal much more than that).
- campaign pamphlets and breach of electoral advertising rules: "it's very clear where the pamphlet comes from, this is not an Exclusive Brethren type situation"
- Labour monetary policy: some ideas already picked up by Reserve Bank.
- Thursday's tax policy announcement to give tax breaks to most New Zealanders.
- is aware capital gains taxes (CGT) take time to collect revenue.
- happy with public debate on CGT & media attention it's received.
- latest poll showing Labour support lagging: "polls go up and down" & says te Tai Tokerau by-election was a good poll of Labour's support.
- Mana Party / Maori Party split will mean Maori voters will be looking elsewhere with their votes.
- Don Brash's latest positioning was predictable, and it was inevitable he'd become "extreme on some of the issues" but "Don Brash is John Key's problem, not mine"
- Australian Carbon Tax: "I'm pleased that the Australian Government has got the numbers to make the change that will reduce global emissions... it's a move in the right direction". Labour will stick with it's broad policy already in place.
- Government response to Christchurch Earthquake: "It's taking a long time, we've tried not to make it into a partisan issue, but our members on the ground certainly have been articulating the concerns of their local constituents."
- Indicates Greens would be a formal coalition partner in a Labour-led Government, and Green Party leaders would have ministerial positions.