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24 May 2012
4:50pm

Middle Class Welfare Must Be Addressed

Middle class welfare remains the single biggest challenge that this country faces and must be confronted, ACT Leader John Banks said today.

“It is wrong that a checkout operator on the minimum wage is taxed to subside the student loan of a well-educated graduate with a high-paying job,” Mr Banks said.

“Under Labour, Government spending increased from $35 billion to $64 billion – an increase of $29 billion in only nine years. Most of this spending went on middle class welfare schemes - New Zealand has been struggling ever since.

24 May 2012
4:38pm

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Budget Speech 2012

John Banks / Speech / Economy

I rise on behalf of the ACT Party to support this Budget and say that we are proud to be part of this National led Government that is putting this economy back on track.

Let’s start with one indisputable fact and one ACT Party proposition.

49.9 per cent of every dollar spent in New Zealand last year was spent by government.

ACT believes that taxpayers can spend their money more sensibly than any government.

There are many things in this budget that are good news for New Zealanders.

23 May 2012
2:32pm

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Less Government = Higher Wages

John Banks / Press Release

ACT Leader John Banks today called on those campaigning for a ‘Living Wage’ to get behind policies that reduce the size of Government.

“Last year the Government’s financial statements showed that 49.9 per cent of every dollar spent in our economy was spent by the Government or a government entity,” Mr Banks said.

“Every dollar spent by government is a dollar that must first be taken out of the pockets of New Zealanders.

16 May 2012
7:14pm

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Statement from John Banks on gift basket

John Banks / Press Release

On a personal trip to Hong Kong I received a gift basket at my hotel from Mr Kim Dotcom. I did not accept the gift and gave it to hotel staff. I did not give the matter any further thought.

I have learned through the media today that the gift was supposedly worth more than $500, an amount which requires disclosure under the Register of Pecuniary and Other Specified Interests.

16 May 2012
2:09pm

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Performance Based Pay for Teachers Long Overdue

Chris Simmons / Press Release / Primary And Secondary Education

ACT New Zealand today welcomed Education Minister Hekia Parata’s serious consideration of performance based pay for teachers, which is best practice in industries all around the world and is long overdue in the education sector.

22 Nov 2011
9:37pm

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Don Brash on the NZ Herald live chat

ACT Party / Blog / Economy

Earlier this afternoon Don Brash participated in an online live chat on the New Zealand Herald website. Below are some of the highlights.

On ACT’s appeal in 2011:

I subscribe to most of the values that National espouses on its website - limited government, personal responsibility, equal citizenship, to name just three.

10 Nov 2011
1:00pm

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Speech to Rural Policy Launch

ACT Party / Blog / Regulatory Reform / Rural

Speech to Rural Policy Launch
Hamilton November 10^th

Thank you for attending today.

My name is John Thompson. I am placed at number ten on the ACT Party List and I am part of the rural group in the Top 12 Caucus.

I will get the electioneering part over now as I am asking you you for your Party Vote to ACT and I hope to enter Parliament by way of getting there via the list ranking that I have.

29 Oct 2011
1:15pm

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Roger Kerr 1945-2011

ACT Party / Blog / Economy

Today we lost a dear friend and an exceptional New Zealander.

Roger Kerr spent his lifetime serving New Zealand. After 20 years working at a senior level with the New Zealand Treasury and the Department of Foreign Affairs he was appointed the first Executive Director of the New Zealand Business Roundtable, a position he held for the next 25 years.

3 Oct 2011
2:44pm

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Help Stephen Whittington In Wellington Central

ACT Party / Blog

In the upcoming election, I will be standing as ACT’s candidate in Wellington Central. If you are willing to support me financially, please make a donation to 01-0505-0661103-00. Account name is Wellington Central Campaign.

With your support, $50 will enable us to deliver 500 leaflets; $100 will enable us to put up three billboards; and $1,000 will enable us to put a letter in half the letterboxes in Wellington Central.

Thank you for any donation – no matter how small!

21 Sep 2011
2:16pm

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Innumerate Greens

ACT Party / Blog / Taxation

I honestly cannot believe that the Greens have made such a simple mistake, in a document which is intended to set out how they will finance their plans to significantly increase Government expenditure.

24 May 2012
4:50pm

comments

Middle Class Welfare Must Be Addressed

John Banks / Press Release

Middle class welfare remains the single biggest challenge that this country faces and must be confronted, ACT Leader John Banks said today.

“It is wrong that a checkout operator on the minimum wage is taxed to subside the student loan of a well-educated graduate with a high-paying job,” Mr Banks said.

“Under Labour, Government spending increased from $35 billion to $64 billion – an increase of $29 billion in only nine years. Most of this spending went on middle class welfare schemes - New Zealand has been struggling ever since.

24 May 2012
4:38pm

comments

Budget Speech 2012

John Banks / Speech / Economy

I rise on behalf of the ACT Party to support this Budget and say that we are proud to be part of this National led Government that is putting this economy back on track.

Let’s start with one indisputable fact and one ACT Party proposition.

49.9 per cent of every dollar spent in New Zealand last year was spent by government.

ACT believes that taxpayers can spend their money more sensibly than any government.

There are many things in this budget that are good news for New Zealanders.

23 May 2012
2:32pm

comments

Less Government = Higher Wages

John Banks / Press Release

ACT Leader John Banks today called on those campaigning for a ‘Living Wage’ to get behind policies that reduce the size of Government.

“Last year the Government’s financial statements showed that 49.9 per cent of every dollar spent in our economy was spent by the Government or a government entity,” Mr Banks said.

“Every dollar spent by government is a dollar that must first be taken out of the pockets of New Zealanders.

16 May 2012
7:14pm

comments

Statement from John Banks on gift basket

John Banks / Press Release

On a personal trip to Hong Kong I received a gift basket at my hotel from Mr Kim Dotcom. I did not accept the gift and gave it to hotel staff. I did not give the matter any further thought.

I have learned through the media today that the gift was supposedly worth more than $500, an amount which requires disclosure under the Register of Pecuniary and Other Specified Interests.

16 May 2012
2:09pm

comments

Performance Based Pay for Teachers Long Overdue

Chris Simmons / Press Release / Primary And Secondary Education

ACT New Zealand today welcomed Education Minister Hekia Parata’s serious consideration of performance based pay for teachers, which is best practice in industries all around the world and is long overdue in the education sector.

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