TOP Announces Formation of Public Policy Unit
Opportunities Party leader Dr Gareth Morgan today announced the formation of a public policy research unit that the party will use to further develop its evidence-based, best practice policy for the 2020 election.
Now that TOP has experienced and survived its first election campaign and as the party continues to evolve, it’s time to beef up TOP’s public policy research unit, so we can ensure that all our TOP people are as close as possible to our ongoing development of evidence-based policy.
TOP is determined to get New Zealand to address properly the primary issue that is holding our economy and our society back. Tax and welfare reform (as outlined in the 2011 book, “The Big Kahuna”) is New Zealand’s most serious challenge. We just have to succeed in getting New Zealanders to recognise that low wages, rising inequality and faltering productivity can all be sheeted back to the Establishment parties failing to move our tax and welfare regime into the 21st century.
Two Tax Working Groups have told us this, and the government is contemplating a third. They are just fiddling while Rome burns, too gutless to disturb the comfortable lives of those of us doing well. I need to look no further than my own situation – making more money over the last year than I used to over 20 years and to have a tax rate that is under 4%. This is demonstrative of all that is wrong with society and how bleak the future is for those folks who are struggling and being left further and further behind – and I include the younger generations in that. I see no sign whatsoever of Labour’s coalition government anywhere near addressing this fundamental defect. So long as that persists, TOP will continue to be a rowdy disruptor.
TOP’s public policy research unit will start recruiting talent forthwith.
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Olive Hill commented 2017-11-27 16:02:23 +1300I’m looking forward to more evidence based policy. It makes me so frustrated to think we have people living in cars, and some families working multiple jobs, but never able to get ahead. I think there are many things wrong with modern day NZ. We do not care for our people, we seem only to care about wealth and rewarding the wealthy. Keep going TOP. 👍🏻 -
Oliver Krollmann commented 2017-11-20 15:03:16 +1300Simple – because some income isn’t taxed at all. Imagine you earned $100k in salaries, on which you would pay approximately $24k income tax (24% average tax rate because of the four different tax bands). Imagine you earned another $500k in capital gains from land banking and flipping properties in Auckland and saving rent because you live in your own home, neither of which are taxed. That makes a total income of $600k and total income tax of $24k -> there’s your 4% tax rate. Welcome to the property tax haven New Zealand.
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Lee Winger commented 2017-11-20 12:06:05 +13004%? Can I ask how you’re paying 4% when the minimum tax rate is significantly above this?
I absolutely agree that change is needed, but especially the difference between working and not. There is now so little difference between wages and benefits that I speak to people daily who think it is not “worth it” to work. I can’t say I blame them when I look at the minimum wage. The gap between wages and benefits needs to grow, significantly so. -
Rick Rutledge-Manning commented 2017-11-19 09:47:30 +1300Without doubt from the Inception of TOPs, I have personally learnt so much more regarding the capitalists structure that has a stranglehold on our society. The creation of a public policy forum is cutting edge and the motive behind it can only be beneficial, however it will be good to get clarification on the parties stance regarding abortion. When I voice my opposition to the candidate from the North Shore who advocated abortion, the parties Mechanical monitoring mechanism, segregated me out and cut me loose from further comments, hence my question.
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Phillip de Bruyn commented 2017-11-18 15:09:24 +1300Excellent news. Looking forward to more sensible analysis and brave, evidence based policy.
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Oliver Krollmann commented 2017-11-18 14:20:36 +1300Good stuff. I guess the PPRU is the logical successor to The Morgan Foundation and their great work, but with a much more political focus.
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Oliver Krollmann followed this page 2017-11-18 14:18:09 +1300