Statement from John Banks on gift basket
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.
Subsequently my office sought clarification from the Registrar on the appropriate course of action. As we are unable to confirm the actual value, their advice was to make an addition to my return as set out in Standing Orders Appendix B 20(1) which I have now done.
ENDS
Statement by John Banks re: 2010 Auckland Mayoralty Campaign Return
John Banks today welcomed the news that there will be a second investigation into his 2010 Auckland Mayoralty Campaign electoral return.
“As I have said previously, my electoral return was filed in accordance with the law as set out by the Local Electoral Act 2001. I am 100% confident that the investigation will conclude in my favour,” Mr Banks said.
Comments by a former employee of Mr Dotcom in today’s New Zealand Herald confirmed the anonymity of the donation. They said “they had personally deposited the cheques into Mr Banks' campaign account. It was “… deposited just through a normal bank process. It would have just come up as a $25,000 deposit."
“I was not aware that Mr Dotcom had made this donation to my campaign.
“I did not call him to thank him as the donation was made anonymously.
"I can confirm that I had contact with Mr Dotcom on other matters, including thanking him for the generous $500,000 donation that he made to the ratepayers of Auckland for the 2010 New Year’s Eve fireworks display, however I never called and thanked him for any donation to my Mayoral campaign. I could not have as any such contribution was anonymous.
“As this matter is under investigation, I will not comment further until the investigation is complete,” Mr Banks said.
ENDS
Introduction Of Spending Limit A Victory For ACT
Today’s announcement that the Government will introduce a spending limit into the Public Finance Act is another welcome victory for the ACT Party, ACT Leader John Banks today.
“ACT has long believed in the need for a legislated spending limit to keep politicians’ spending in check. It is for this reason that we pushed so hard to have it included in our Confidence and Supply Agreement with National,” Mr Banks said.
“The provision in the Public Finance Act will limit spending increases to population growth and inflation, but will exclude natural disasters, asset impairments, finance charges and unemployment benefits.
“If the limit is exceeded, the Minister of Finance will be required to explain to Parliament the reasons for doing so.
“The introduction of a spending limit will create greater accountability and transparency in government spending and could prevent future spending blow-outs.
“Too often politicians spend up large in the good times, leaving nothing in reserve for when things get tough. We saw this type of spend up occur under the previous Labour Government.
“The spending limit will force politicians to be more accountable and upfront about their spending promises, and therefore more likely to stick within a budget.
“The Minister of Finance deserves praise for the improvements he is making to the Public Finance Act to strengthen fiscal responsibility as part of New Zealand’s evolving fiscal and monetary frameworks,” Mr Banks said.
Teacher Surplus No Surprise
ACT Leader John Banks today expressed sympathy for the hundreds of frustrated graduate teachers unable to find employment, but says this outcome is no surprise.
“This is what happens when Government believes it can ‘pick winners’ better than the market can – it doesn’t work,” Mr Banks said.
“Approximately $19 million was invested by the Government to attract more New Zealanders to the teaching profession. It worked, too well. Now instead of working, a lack of jobs is forcing qualified teachers onto the dole queue, or worse, overseas for jobs, taking the taxpayers’ investment with them.
“The underlying cause of the teacher shortage was not a lack of Government assistance, but because of strict collective agreements that gave little room to increase teachers’ salaries to attract more people into the profession.
“If schools and their Boards had the flexibility and freedom to determine the salaries of their teachers, they would have had the tools to deal with the initial shortage themselves. But instead Government chose the path of central planning which created a teacher glut.
“This could have been avoided, and that money saved, if we had instead left it to the market to correct the problem instead of relying on Government intervention,” Mr Banks said.
Housing Affordability Inquiry Reveals Emergence of Tenant Generation
The Productivity Commissions report into housing affordability has revealed the disturbing emergence of a tenant generation, ACT Leader John Banks said today.
“Bad urban planning policies are denying the dream of home ownership to a whole generation of New Zealanders,” Mr Banks said.
“These policies have increased costs and created delays at every step of home building process.
“Council restraints on the supply of land for residential houses have had a big impact, pushing land prices up and with it the average price of a modest home.
“This upward price rise is reflected in our housing statistics. Home ownership rates have plummeted, largely because house prices have skyrocketed. The ratio of house price to income has doubled since the 1980s, while home ownership rates have fallen as low as 60 per cent.
“The proportion of 35-44 year olds renting has doubled from 20 per cent to 40 per cent. One wonders whether our children and grandchildren will ever afford to be home owners.
“The inquiry reveals a number of steps that could be taken if we are serious about reversing this trend.
“ACT would like to see action taken immediately to lift the restrictions on buildable land so that more New Zealanders, particularly the young, can afford to own their own piece of New Zealand,” Mr Banks said.
ENDS
Queue Jumping Should Not Be Tolerated
The refugees intent on coming to New Zealand without following proper process need to be told don’t bother, ACT Leader John Banks said today.
“There are only one set of protocols to be adhered to when coming to New Zealand as refugees and this group is not following it.
“New Zealand is a blessed country and we deserve the right to have our laws and processes respected.
“Queue jumping is also incredibly unfair on the refugees that follow the proper process and we must respect their rights as well.
“The Government needs to send a message to all would be asylum seekers that queue jumping is not the way we do business in New Zealand. Not to do so would encourage further breaches of our laws and protocols.
“The journey from Australia to New Zealand is fraught with danger and being upfront about our position would deter these refugees from putting their lives at risk,” Mr Banks.
ENDS
Queue Jumping Should Not Be Tolerated
The refugees intent on coming to New Zealand without following proper process need to be told don’t bother, ACT Leader John Banks said today.
“There are only one set of protocols to be adhered to when coming to New Zealand as refugees and this group is not following it.
“New Zealand is a blessed country and we deserve the right to have our laws and processes respected.
“Queue jumping is also incredibly unfair on the refugees that follow the proper process and we must respect their rights as well.
“The Government needs to send a message to all would be asylum seekers that queue jumping is not the way we do business in New Zealand. Not to do so would encourage further breaches of our laws and protocols.
“The journey from Australia to New Zealand is fraught with danger and being upfront about our position would deter these refugees from putting their lives at risk,” Mr Banks.
ENDS
Queue Jumping Should Not Be Tolerated
The refugees intent on coming to New Zealand without following proper process need to be told don’t bother, ACT Leader John Banks said today.
“There are only one set of protocols to be adhered to when coming to New Zealand as refugees and this group is not following it.
“New Zealand is a blessed country and we deserve the right to have our laws and processes respected.
“Queue jumping is also incredibly unfair on the refugees that follow the proper process and we must respect their rights as well.
“The Government needs to send a message to all would be asylum seekers that queue jumping is not the way we do business in New Zealand. Not to do so would encourage further breaches of our laws and protocols.
“The journey from Australia to New Zealand is fraught with danger and being upfront about our position would deter these refugees from putting their lives at risk,” Mr Banks.
ENDS
Vehicle Licensing Reform - Just Do It
ACT Leader John Banks today said there has been too much talk and too little action about extending the date of Warrant of Fitness requirements from 6 to 12 months.
"There is little evidence to support our current WOF inspection regime making much contribution to road safety for new cars," Mr Banks said.
"But the costs to all car owners are significant running at $250 million per year.
“It’s also silly to require new vehicles to be tested every 12 months for the first six years. It should be no more often than two years.
“Just do it is my advice to the Transport Minister,” Mr Banks said.
ACT Opposed To Heavy Handed Dairy Regulation
ACT Leader John Banks today expressed concern at the proposed Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill (DIRA) which contains provisions to control farmer’s incomes through the regulation of wholesale milk prices.
“The ACT Party stands for free enterprise. Regulations that dictate what farmers can earn for their produce go against that very principle,” Mr Banks said.
“The Bill has two parts: the first relates to the trading of shares in Fonterra and the second to wholesale milk price regulation.
“ACT will support the Bill to first reading as we support the right of shareholders to trade shares, however, we do not support the regulation of farm gate prices for milk.
“Farmers need to make their views known at Select Committee,” Mr Banks said.
ENDS
