Winter 2010

What’s been buzzing in the Beehive?

Budget 2010

Finance Minister Bill English has given New Zealanders the biggest tax reform package in nearly 25 years.  May’s Budget gained widespread praise, from ordinary New Zealanders through to large businesses.  I’ve had a lot of feedback from people, saying that the Budget was sensible, well thought out, and on track to lifting long term economic growth in New Zealand.  It will help create jobs, boost incomes, and raise public services and living standards. 

Budget 2010 is about lifting long-term economic growth and helping Kiwi families get ahead. We want to give more back to ordinary Kiwis because they deserve it. 

On 1 October National’s across the board tax cuts and an increase in income support payments to compensate for the increase in GST to 15% come into effect.  This will leave the average worker $15 a week better off and the average household $25 a week better off. 

We’re also rebalancing Working for Families for those who really need it.  People will no longer be able to offset investment and rental losses against personal incomes.

We want to ensure that New Zealand businesses remain internationally competitive so we’re lowering company tax to 28 per cent.  We’re also tightening the rules around investment in property, and so multinationals pay a fairer share of tax too.

As part of our new spending initiatives, National has prioritised key frontline public services, such as Health and Education.  We have increased spending in Health by $2.1 billion over the next four years.  We have also committed $1.4 billion in Education for better schooling and early childhood education.

Before the Budget, Prime Minister John Key announced a $321 million boost for new science and innovation over the next four years.  We are also unclogging the growth arteries by investing $1.45 billion to build better roads, rail, and electricity networks.

We knew the road to recovery post recession would be bumpy, but Budget 2010 outlines our broad-based economic plan for lifting growth, and helping Kiwi families get ahead.

Law & Order

One of the common themes that I have noticed from my 2010 survey responses is the need for tougher law and order initiatives.  Everyone has a right to feel safe in their homes and communities.  National is working hard to deliver on this.  We are putting victims first.  We have introduced a $50 levy on all offenders, to provide extra services to victims of crime.  We’ve successfully introduced on-the-spot safety orders to protect vulnerable families involved in domestic violence.  We have also declared war on the drug ‘P’, and committed more resources to getting ‘P’ off our streets.

Youth Parliament

Youth MP Tim Robinson of Parklands attended 2010 Youth Parliament in July and here’s what he had to say about it:

“This was an incredibly eye - opening experience into how our parliamentary system functions.  I was lucky enough to be placed on the select committee for foreign affairs, defence and trade.  This committee looked into how New Zealand can best support its commitment to the 2015 deadline for the Millennium Development Goals.

The main debate inside the house was on the creation of the ‘Age of Majority Bill’ – a bill that would lower the age of a person attaining full adult rights from 20 to 18 (some laws already specify a lower age). During question time I got to ask a supplementary question in the House.

Sitting in Aaron’s chair, and getting this close to parliamentary debate (even though he’s stuck at the back!) was a definite highlight for me. However, this was slightly overshadowed by a private tour of John Key’s office and the Cabinet Room on the top levels of the Beehive.  The strong sense of history and prestige in these rooms was inspiring. 

This was an amazing opportunity; to represent Aaron Gilmore and to experience Parliament.  Special thanks for his interest, and ongoing support.”

Youth MP Tim Robinson (above) and local National MPs and their Youth MPs

USA Exchange

I headed a delegation of five representatives from National, Labour, the Greens, and the Maori Party as part of a 16-day sponsored trip to the USA with the American Council of Young Political Leaders.

We visited political leaders at multiple levels of government, from the rocky mountain west to Philadelphia in the east.  We also met lobby groups like EMILY’s list and the Afl-CIO from the left to the Republican Congress Council and farmers from the right.  The trip was a fascinating insight into all things good and bad that the USA has to offer.  The contacts made will be valuable for a very long time to share experiences and knowledge of both our great nations.

Personally, I enjoyed Colorado because of the people and the environment, but the history and culture that Washington offers including a tour of the west wing of the White House by President Obama’s Director of Operations was hard to beat.  I just wish it wasn’t pushing 40 degrees Celsius each day!  

The economy in the USA is a big problem, and while the not-for-profit sector is doing some neat stuff that we can learn from, our health and education systems are definitely better.  I found it interesting that many Democrats now want performance pay and national standards for teachers and schools.  Public sector efficiency and effectiveness are a big focus given declining tax revenues.

When I gave a speech to a local group of republicans and I said that New Zealand was a small country that needed big friends like USA for trade and security, whereby a prominent local then said the USA at the moment simply needed any friends it could get!

With Senator Mark Udall of Colorado

In the Out of Parliament Office…

I am delighted that in July the Education and Science Select Committee recommended that the Education Ministry undertake a full review of high school needs in North East Christchurch.  My petition, supported by 3,664 local people has drawn attention to our community’s concerns and made sure they are being addressed.  The Minister’s response is due on 2 September and I look forward to updating you in our next issue.

The Government review into Public-Private Partnerships (PPP’s) of school property is something I am keen to keep an eye on.  Our high school campaign is linked with potential local developments such as Preston’s, so this could be great news for our community.

I am pleased to report that the Shirley/Papanui Community Board has recommended that my proposal, to vest 28 hectares of land at the southern end of Brooklands Lagoon as a scenic reserve, go to a full Council review.  The final outcome may still take a few months to resolve so I will update you in a later issue.

Thanks to those who have returned my 2010 survey.  I’ve received around 1200 already so keep sending them through.  I read every one and am taking note of your concerns and issues.  Copies of the survey can be found at http://www.aarongilmore.org.nz/news-post/survey-2010/.

Out and about

In recent months I have been meeting with many local community groups, schools, and businesses as well as working on a number of interesting law changes in Wellington.  

Community Max project at Brooklands Lagoon (left), parliamentary rugby match where we raised $30,000 for the new Porirua Youth Grants Trust, and presenting a community service award to Betty Chapman. 

Taking a dip at Shirley Boys HS mid-winter swim with headmaster John Laurenson (left) Visiting kids at the Champions Centre for special needs (centre)  Presenting a community service award to Richard and Barbara Starling (right).

Watch out for… 

• Have a look at my latest video diary_here.
  

In the meantime, don’t forget to put the following events into your diary:

• Local meetings at 7.30pm on the fourth Monday each month. Contact sue-parkes@xtra.co.nz or my office for details.
   
• Regional meetings are the first Monday of the month.
   
• I will be hosting a regular ‘seniors – meet your MP’ Friday morning tea. Please contact my office on 03 382 5701 for details of the next one.
   
• Cabinet Club events scheduled for 17 September with Hon Judith Collins, 28 September with Hon Tony Ryall, and 6 October with Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman.  Please contact my office on 03 382 5701 if you are interested in attending.

Until next time…

The next newsletter will be out in the spring.  For more updates please visit my website at www.aarongilmore.org.nz. 

In the meantime, roll on spring, although that means I will need to mow my lawn more often! If you have any comments or views, drop me a line or an email – it would be great to hear from you. 

Regards,

Aaron Gilmore