Greens reject tax cuts for the rich

Green Party Co-leader Rod Donald says a self-serving tax-cut plan from United Future would deliver $1155 per annum into the pockets of MPs but just $75 to low and middle earners.

“It is extraordinary a party that claims to be family friendly wants to reward the already well-off instead of meeting the urgent needs of the 30 per cent of children growing up in poverty,” said Mr Donald. “The proposal shows which side of the political fence United Future is really on.

“Given a choice between the Government’s targeted ‘Working for Families’ package and UF’s tax cuts for the rich, we’re backing Labour."

Mr Donald said the Greens also want to make the first $5000 of income tax-free for everyone.

“Our income tax policy would put $475 a year in the pockets of low and middle income families, but we recognise that even that is nowhere near enough to help those people who are struggling to make ends meet. We would also lift the minimum wage, raise benefit levels and re-introduce a Universal Child Benefit.

“United Future’s tax cut plan might give the already-rich enough money to fill-up their second SUV at the petrol-pump, but would do nothing to help the third of New Zealand children living below the poverty line, or give low and middle income earners the start they need to own their own home.”

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>