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
United Future believes that we should be supporting the continued use and upgrading of commuter buses and rail. The proposal to link Mosgiel and Dunedin with a commuter rail service is an interesting one. We would like to see a feasibility study, which would consider the likely uptake for the service, consider any environmental impact, and look at the issue in the context of existing bus services. If there is sufficient demand from Mosgiel residents, this is a proposal that we should give serious consideration.
2. Taxation
It is United Future's policy to set personal tax rates as follows: 10 per cent up to $12,000, 20 per cent between $12,001 and $38,000, and 30 per cent above $38,000. We will also introduce income splitting for parents with dependant children, make honoraria for volunteers up to $1000
tax free, abolish gift duty, and align the top personal, company and trust tax rates at 30 cents.
3. Crime
We will re-introduce "beat'' cops for every neighbourhood, to raise the visibility of police and their interaction with the community they serve. We also need to ensure that police co-ordinate closely with social service and child protection agencies in each community, including automatic referral of any criminal activity that involves children, to improve responses to domestic violence and child abuse. We will also increase minimum non-parole periods for violent offenders and those who commit serious sexual crimes. Multiple violent and sexual offenders will not be eligible for bail. Home detention for violent offenders, drug dealers and child abusers will be denied.
4. Power
We will adopt a national strategy, including private sector funding, to insulate all New Zealand homes to at least 1977 standards, prioritising the homes of those with low and fixed incomes. We will also require all dwellings sold to be assessed for energy efficiency and given a standardised energy-efficiency rating. We want to reduce domestic electricity prices by increasing the supply of electricity and allowing construction of more sustainable generation capacity. We should also be seriously considering a one-off winter fuel payment to those aged over 65.
5. Health
Our policy is based on the principle of prevention rather than cure. We want to retain the current basic structure of the health system, to provide stability for health professionals and consumers and to give it an opportunity to deliver. We will offer a free yearly "warrant of fitness'' health check for every New Zealander and believe that surplus capacity in the private sector should be utilised _ such as reducing waiting lists for elective surgery for those who are likely to wait longer than six months by requiring DHBs to contract out work to private hospitals.
6. Stadium
Yes, as long as there is no long-term cost to ratepayers, many of whom are simply not in a position to cope with increased rates. United Future believes that the rates regimes for local authorities are unfair, particularly on our seniors and people on fixed incomes. We will investigate alternative local-
body funding arrangements with the aim of abolishing rates on domestic and commercial properties - we can't let things continue as they are.