Election 2008 Dunedin North and Dunedin South candidates respond to your questions.
AS part of The Star 's Election '08 coverage we offered all candidates standing in the Dunedin South and Dunedin North electorates the opportunity to answer some written questions compiled by The Star readers and The Star and Otago Chamber of Commerce staff. Candidates' answers were limited to 100 words per question in this week's The Star and were edited where necessary. Their extended answers are shown here.
THE QUESTIONS
1. Rail What are the chances of restoring a commuter rail service between Mosgiel and Dunedin during the next electoral term, and what is your medium/long-term vision for commuter/passenger rail services through Dunedin and the South? (Brighton resident Lorraine Johnston)
2. Taxation Will your party repeal taxation on unearned capital gain on foreign income that is in Taxation (Business Taxation and Remedial Matters) Act 2007, section 11, Foreign Investment Fund Income. (John Horrocks, Mornington)
3. Crime How would you address the escalation in violent crime, including domestic violence, in this country? (Business and Professional Women's group Dunedin/The Star/Chamber of Commerce)
4. Power What energy policies would you champion and what would you do to help Dunedin in terms of its old, cold homes? (The Star/Chamber of Commerce)
5. Health What is your opinion of population-based funding and what changes, if any, would you make to the current health system? (The Star/Chamber of Commerce)
6. Stadium Do you support the proposed Awatea St stadium? (The Star/Chamber of Commerce)
THE ANSWERS
1. Rail
The Alliance supports the use of rail both for passengers and freight as an efficient use of scarce fuel resources. However, public transport is only efficient if it is well used by people. The challenge is to provide a service that is cheap, easy to access, reliable, energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. It is a challenge the Alliance would relish.
2. Taxation
Sorry, no. The Alliance very much in favour of a capital gains tax, with the exception of the family home. We see this as a way of keeping housing affordable and encouraging a financial commitment to productive industries in New Zealand which will provide good jobs and revenue for the country.
3. Crime
The Alliance believes that social issues must be addressed to reduce violence against women and violent crime in general. Well-paid work, free education and healthcare, adequate housing, access to free child care, including after-school and holiday care, would reduce the stresses on families that often lead to violence. The Alliance would also ensure that help for people with drug, alcohol and gambling addictions is readily available and easily accessible and provide effective and accessible mental health services that emphasise preventive measures and maintaining wellbeing with effective long-term support for all patients and their families rather than just providing short-term acute care. The Alliance deplores violent crime in any shape or form. We are very much committed to preventing violent crime from occurring in our society. We believe it is pointless adopting a strategy to deal with violent crime that relies on a "get tough on crime'' approach to dealing with offenders once they have already committed a crime. We see that as simply shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.
4. Power
The Alliance intends to put electricity back into public ownership and introduce price controls so that residential customers have affordable electricity and gas. We would also increase the number of state houses to ensure a supply of quality rental accommodation and we support subsidised insulation for homes.
5. Health
The Alliance believes that all New Zealanders should have access to free, quality health care and we are prepared to increase the health budget to a level to achieve this. While we don't have a specific policy on population-based funding, I don't see that quality, free health care for all New Zealanders
can be delivered using a population-based funding method. Funding must be allocated on an actual needs basis not using a hypothetical statistically generated model.
6. Stadium
Not if it requires the use of public funds from either taxpayer or ratepayer. There are more important priorities for taxpayer and ratepayers' money, like health, education, affordable livable housing, public transport, clean beaches to name but a few.