Meeting with Waimate Grey Power today

We’re working with Grey Power on some economic modelling and today I am speaking to Waimate Grey Power. Progressive and Grey Power are studying the economics of raising super from the current floor of 65% of the net average wage. I'd like Progressive to be able to outline a credible economic case for more financial support for pensioners.

http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1540

Interest in our anti-drugs, pro-jobs policies

I'm enjoying my meetings with Grey Power. I'm finding a real meeting of minds on the importance of job creation (regional and industry development) and affordable banking (Kiwibank is sponsoring Grey Power's AGM and offers a competitive members-only term deposit rate.)

There is also strong support for our tough line on the peddlers of dangerous drugs and the way we are prepared to adopt controversial policies (raise the age to 20) to effectively act against youth binge drinking.

http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=106
Matt Robson's Members' Bill will be in the next ballot on Thur 17 March

Policy delivery, consistency, key issues in election

Yesterday I caught up with Young Progressives at their stall at AUT and tomorrow I'll be with Young Progressives at Waikato University. I'm finding discussion on Progressive's 2005 election proposal to meet graduates' loan payments in return for working in NZ is supported. Not because it is a hand-out. Rather, because it’s about investing in New Zealand's social and economic future.

People know we have a record of getting things done. We're the small party that isn't cynically promising the moon. But we will try our hardest to get some practical help from the next coalition government.

http://www.progressiveparty.org.nz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1334

Off to see the Sallies to talk housing

Progressive Executive members are taking the initiative to meet their local Salvation Army people to discuss how to improve young peoples' chances of getting into their first homes. They see common ground in the Sallies’ report From Housing to Homes and the Progressive policy of allowing families to capitalise Family Support to be able to get a deposit to buy a home. Well done to all.

The Progressive policy
http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=103

The Sallies' report is on the front page of http://www.salvationarmy.org.nz/

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Election 2005: Nats pick NZF, UFO, but ditch ACT

The war between ACT and National continues with a further deliberate attack in the Herald today. People ask me if this means we can rest on our laurels and see an historic third term progressive government elected.

The answer is no, no and no. All that has happened is National has ditched ACT in favour of NZ First and United Future Outdoor (UFO) as its preferred coalition partners.

NZ First and UFO are promising Muldoon-proportion spending and Rogernomics-sized income tax cuts in a cynical campaign that can never be delivered.

Centre-left parties must win over 50% of the seats in Parliament later this year. If we don't, then you can bet your bottom dollar that the ultra right wingers in the UFO and NZ First caucuses will install National in government.

The Herald reports the continuing attacks blow-by-blow
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=466&ObjectID=10112807
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10114058
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?ObjectID=10113586

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Kiwibank victory is good for senior citizens

Jim Anderton's Kiwibank is a secure part of our social framework after National re-examined the evidence and concluded that Kiwibank is fantastic for New Zealand. National joins Labour, United, NZ First and some Greens to come round to supporting our Kiwibank and I say "Better late than never!"

http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1554

Simon says: NZTE “assistance is really important”

Simon Barnett said in Monday’s DomPost Business section: "I know it's not fashionable to talk about them [NZTE grants] at the moment but when you are trying to do really ambitious things and take on the world with new products from a small company in New Zealand, that assistance is really important." Simon should know: his Palmerston North company exports to 42 countries. At Athens, 77% of Olympic hockey teams used his gear.

Exporters are telling me it is hard going with the Kiwi dollar at very high levels. That is why the pro-jobs Progressive Party is campaigning this election for a 30% company tax rate. That would help Kiwi companies better take on the world and allow us to continue our five year winning run against the Aussies in the race to create jobs.

http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=104
Simon's story: http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3208647a13,00.html

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