Greens co-leader James Shaw Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
The Greens' tax and income policy would provide tax relief for the majority of people and does not have the flaws identified with National's tax plan, co-leader James Shaw says.
Speaking to First Up on Wednesday, Shaw said despite weaknesses being identified by economists with National's tax cuts, people didn't seem to care where the money was coming from.
It was worrying that National was seemingly being "loose" with the finances during this election campaign, it implied "a real lack of readiness" for government, Shaw said.
He said it was also a turnoff for the public as National and Labour staged "a Punch and Judy show" as they battled over who had the bigger fiscal hole.
Shaw said the Greens proposed tax cuts for 95 percent of people and the policy was fully paid for (through the imposition of a wealth tax). No one had questioned the fiscals of their policy, he said.
"It irritates me that most of the current spotlight is on Labour and National and the questions around their plans."
Public polling had shown that the majority of Kiwis (including National and ACT voters) supported a fairer tax policy which would give them more cash at a time of a high cost of living, Shaw said.
The wealth tax would also fund a universal guaranteed income of at least $385 a week. Individuals with assets of over $2 million or couples with assets over $4m would be included in the party's wealth tax provisions.
The Greens had "sweated for months" on the tax and income policy and economic analysts Infometrics had gone through it with "a fine tooth comb". Infometrics also reviewed Labour's fiscal plan.
"I know there are people who don't like the plan because five percent of people would pay more tax," Shaw said.
However, he said that meant the remainder would have more money in their pockets to pay for their groceries, rent and power bills.
"Ultimately, it stacks up."
Infometrics found the Greens' policies would raise more revenue, but also increase expenses.
Income tax changes, the proposed wealth tax, and changes to ACC levies would raise $43.3b more in revenue than in the government's Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU).
The Greens also want to ramp up the construction of state houses. It aims to clear the waiting list for public housing within five years by building 7000 annually, instead of the 5000 being added at present.
Kāinga Ora should also enter 10-year contracts with its tenants to try and give them more stability and reduce construction costs in the sector, Shaw said.
"That means we will actually have places for people to live, but we're still in a very constrained environment.
"At the moment, we're stuck and that's because we have started finally as a country to address this, we're still not working at the scale or speed we need to be."
Shaw was asked about those tenants who cause problems while living in Kāinga Ora properties. He said some of them were vulnerable and making them homeless was not the way to go.
Read more:
- https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/news-extras/story/2018902030/election-2023-rnz-s-guide-to-party-policy
- https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/498864/election-2023-what-you-need-to-know-before-voting
- https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/496990/coalitions-confidence-and-supply-what-you-need-to-know
- https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/494809/latest-political-polling-campaign-finances-social-media-targeting-and-more
- https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/caucus
