Economy & Cost of Living

Wealth can’t solve all of our problems, but it makes most of them easier. The cost of living crisis is half about high prices, and half about having a low wage economy. We need policies that will make it easier to produce and provide, with more investment in better technology and skills, with more entrepreneurial spirit.

The Government cannot create wealth itself, because every dollar the Government has is taxed from someone who created it. What the Government can do is create the conditions and encourage the culture of wealth creation.

We believe success spreads, one person’s success can help, inspire, or give the means to invest in another’s. We should celebrate and encourage success instead of practicing tall poppy.

ACT backs the person who invests in themselves to upskill, works overtime to save a deposit for a farm or a home, or takes the risk of quitting a regular paycheque to start their own business. You shouldn’t be punished for that with ever-increasing taxes or swaths of red tape.

Tax and regulation are needed, but they come at a cost. That’s why we believe Government should be a careful spender, keeping your taxes low, providing only essential services and doing them well. Government should regulate carefully, making rules when there is no other way to solve a problem, and removing red tape when it’s no longer needed.