“Hawkes Bay people made it clear to Craig and I that youth unemployment and training was a key issue for them in a survey we both sent out following this years budget” says MP Chris Tremain. “It’s great to see the Prime Minister making such a strong announcement to help youth into employment”.

“Wrapping services around and investing in these teenagers (and their children), now, will provide a brighter future for these individuals and our wider community” says Craig Foss MP.

For young people who are not in education, training or employment, the Government will fund organisations to support them into education and training programmes and help to keep them there.

The Government will also amend the Privacy Act and the Education Act so that the most at-risk young people can be identified and contacted.

For all 16-and 17-year-olds on benefits, and also for 18-year-old teen parents, the way they get financial assistance will change.

There will be a much more managed system of payments. While details are still being worked through, it is anticipated that this system will include:

• some essential costs, like rent and power, being paid directly on the young person’s behalf

• money for basic living costs like food and groceries being loaded onto a payment card that can only be used to buy certain types of goods and cannot be used to buy things like alcohol or cigarettes

• a certain, limited amount of money being available for the young person to spend at their own  discretion.

“It’s great to see young people given this level of support and guidance” say both MP’s. “In addition  it’s good to know that benefit payments to youth will be managed to ensure they are spent on healthy food, rent and other essential services”.

National came to office believing more could be done to protect the victims of domestic violence.

As a result we have introduced on the spot Police Safety Orders. These orders allow police to remove an alleged violent person from the home for up to five days. It makes it very clear to the person threatening violence that their behaviour won’t be tolerated.

Police Safety Orders provide a period of respite for victims so they can consider their future options, including the possibility of a court protection order.

Police use this tool when there is insufficient evidence to arrest but where they believe there is a likelihood of further violence taking place. More than 5,000 Police Safety Orders have been issued since they were introduced.

Those on the frontline of domestic violence have said that Police Safety Orders are successful in helping stop domestic violence before it escalates and give at-risk people breathing space to consider their options.

Figures show that only 5.9% of Police Safety Orders have been breached. This is lower than the expected rate of 10%. The low breach level shows that the orders are successful in helping Police reduce domestic violence.

Along with introducing Police Safety Orders additional new laws ensure any offender who breaches a protection order receives up to two years’ imprisonment. They provide a penalty of up to six months’ imprisonment for failing to attend a court-ordered programme.  And they allow police to impose any conditions considered necessary to protect people living with a victim of domestic violence – such as children, new partners, or elderly parents.

National is committed to providing victims with the protection they deserve. We are sending a clear message that domestic violence is not OK.

Chris Tremain

These basic economic principles have been sharpened as we’ve watched Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain struggle with debt mountains that seem insurmountable. And just in the last few weeks we’ve watched as the mighty United States has battled with its debt trillions and has been forced to curb its government spending.

This is what happens when countries live beyond their means. The consequences can be dire as we’ve seen in Greece where that Government has been forced to slash swathes of costs from it’s budgets. Rioting in the streets has been a weekly occurrence.

New Zealand is in a different position to many of these nations. Our total debt is comparable but where we differ is in the proportion that is owed by Government vs that owed by private citizens. Net Government debt in New Zealand is about a quarter of our total national debt. Private debt spiralled in the first decade of this century as New Zealand grew on an orgy of house price increases and consumption, not on savings and exports.

The Government has borrowed to protect New Zealanders from the worst effects of the recession, but we have mapped a faster path back to surplus by 2014/15, when we will start repaying that debt. We have also had to deal with the disaster of the Christchurch earthquake which has increased the need to borrow. We can comfortably do this in the short term. This borrowing has allowed us to get through three tough years while still maintaining essential health, education and superannuation spending.

Government debt is forecast to peak at 30% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and will then start to track downwards. Compare this to Greece at 150% and Ireland at nearly 100%.

These projections were supported by strong growth in the economy in the first quarter of this year, in fact twice as good as what had been forecast. If this continues we will be one of very few western countries in surplus by the 2014/15 year.
These goals can be achieved within the current tax rates and by keeping a tight rein on Government expenditure. We have been implementing a strong economic plan which is now producing results. The last thing we need is a swath of new taxes, new spending, and more borrowing to dampen this growth and therefore our return to profit.

We are not out of the rough seas with many countries threatening to become shipwrecks.

A National led Government has navigated these waters well and is what is needed to get this country back to surplus. Simple home economics – carry on please.

Chris Tremain

National is bringing much-needed leadership and direction to our environment.  Our moderate Emissions Trading Scheme is delivering real results by reducing emissions, encouraging tree planting, and investment in renewable energy. We are on track to meet our Kyoto Protocol obligations.

To support this we’ve put in place a National Policy Statement on Renewable Electricity Generation, to encourage investment in wind, geothermal, hydro, and tidal power. Our renewable electricity comes from our natural resources such as our water and wind, which naturally replenish.

Three-quarters of the electricity used last year was generated by renewables, the highest annual level in 12 years. And renewables made up 79% of our total electricity generation in the March 2011 quarter. This is great news! We are well on our way to achieving our target of 90% of electricity generated from renewable sources by 2025.

Wind generation has increased by more than 25% since 2006. Geothermal electricity generation in 2010 increased by 21% compared to the previous year, and steady progress is being made to develop electricity supplies powered by bioenergy, solar energy, and marine energy.

There was more renewable generation consented in 2010 than in any year in New Zealand’s history, amounting to 830MW – 42% geothermal, 40% wind, and 18% hydro. This is five times the average annual renewable generation consented during the previous Government’s nine years, and enough to power hundreds of thousands of homes.
More trees are being planted, more renewable power stations are being approved, and more renewable electricity is being used.

National is ensuring that we have practical solutions to sustain and protect our environment now, and into the future.

Chris Tremain

 27th July 2011

Craig Foss MP for Tukituki celebrates the Launch of a Green Paper on Vulnerable Children.

 “Minister Bennett has launched the release of the Green Paper for Vulnerable Children today, Wednesday 27 July,” said Craig. “This is the single most important debate that we as New Zealanders can have. The time has come to have a brutally honest, sometimes uncomfortable but vital debate about how we help every child in this country to thrive, belong and achieve.”

 “People from all over Hawke’s Bay and across the country can their say by making a submission before 28 February 2012. Once all of the submissions have been received and analysed, a White Paper will be released outlining the Vulnerable Children’s Action Plan. I encourage all people to speak up and submit and submission and take responsibility for our most vulnerable

 For more information:

www.childrensactionplan.govt.nz

“As at the end of June 2011 there was $16.8 million of fines and reparation outstanding in the Hawkes Bay region. That is a lot of money that needs to be collected and this new law addresses the issue of unpaid fines,” Napier MP Chris Tremain says.

“The Courts and Criminal Matters Bill ensures that court ordered payments (reparations) to victims are paid sooner,” Tukituki MP Craig Foss says.

This has been well over-due and the public has justifiably reacted against the significant amount owed in fines.

This bill is just one of the steps the National-led Government is taking to put victims at the heart of the justice system and make sure offenders are held to account for their actions.

An automated credit reporting system will be introduced to address the inefficient paper-based system which required a lot of unnecessary face to face interaction. This was a contributing factor to increasing unpaid fines.

The bill will also see improved communication between the Ministry of Justice and the credit industry. Penalties such as suspending drivers licences will also be introduced.

“These new tools are designed to compel those who choose to ignore their fines and reparation to pay up. This is great news for Hawke’s Bay and the rest of the country,” Craig and Chris say.

These figures add weight to the projections of this years’ budget which forecast a return to surplus by 2014/15 together with debt starting to track downwards. So just as the economy is gaining momentum, the last thing in my opinion that Wairoa needs is more taxes and more debt.

In addition to this ACC books are back in order allowing significant levy reductions next year for employees of 17% and employers 22% saving households $340 million a year and businesses $247 million a year. This is good news for Wairoa having a direct impact on pay packets.

New Zealanders have a clear choice: Labour wants to take New Zealand backwards with more taxes, more spending and more debt. On top of current taxation Labour want to introduce a Capital Gains Tax, they want to increase the upper income tax bracket, and they want to double the cost of the Emissions Trading Scheme, bringing farmers into the scheme two years earlier.

Wairoa is a community dependent on the agriculture and all of these taxes have potential to impact adversely on that sector. They impact negatively by taking more money out of the Wairoa economy.

At the same time National has reduced taxes across all income tax brackets. National is taking the country forward by growing the economy, getting back to surplus by 2014/15 and repaying debt.

Having left New Zealand with forecasts of ever-rising debt and permanent deficits when he was voted out of office in 2008, Phil Goff now wants to go back and do the same all over again. After making lavish spending promises over the past two years, Labour has had to come up with a hodge-podge tax grab that will be good only for the armies of bureaucrats and tax accountants needed to administer it.

Even on their numbers – and with no accounting for their additional spending promises – Labour would borrow more every year until 2018/19.

It would also have six income tax rates, a GST that applies to some things but not others, a big gap between the company rate and the top tax rate and a capital gains tax on productive industries with a maze of exemptions that raises virtually no revenue in the first few years. All of this would encourage tax avoidance.

Instead of more taxes, New Zealand needs more taxpayers. Instead of growing the Government, we need to grow the economy.

Chris Tremain

“This is great news for Hawkes Bay businesses” says MP for Napier Chris Tremain. “After a tough recession good news like this will add to strengthening business confidence in the Bay”.

National is committed to retaining the unique 24/7 no-fault accidental compensation system and workers’ entitlements. ACC’s proposed levy reductions will leave half a billion dollars a year in the pockets of hardworking Kiwis and help economic recovery.

Craig Foss, MP for Tukituki says “We are now seeing the benefits of our prudent budgets and management of the crown accounts. The turnaround of ACC’s finances shows National’s responsible approach to managing finances and reducing debt is working.

“This is good for the Bay; This is good for all Kiwis.”

http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/levy-reductions-proposed-workers-amp-businesses

We must now look to grow our economy based on sound economic principles. Jobs must be created in the primary and secondary industries, we must earn more than we spend as a nation, and we must save so that we reduce our reliance on foreign borrowing and investment.

To do this the Government has been focusing on an economic plan to encourage business start-ups and growth. That’s why we’ve been so focused on getting the tax system competitive against Australia. We’ve done that. That’s why we’ve invested and will continue to invest so heavily in infrastructure such as the roll-out of broadband and new roading projects. Here in the Bay the Government has invested heavily in roading with projects such as Dillons Hill, the Matahorua Gorge, and the Southern Expressway extension. That’s why we’re investing so heavily in education with the likes of the ‘Service Academy’ at Wairoa College, a new school at Napier Intermediate, National Standards across our primary schools, and a Trades Academy at EIT in 2012. It’s why we’re so focused on controlling Government spending so that the private sector grows not the government sector.

And this week it’s why our Prime Minister is in India looking to secure a Free Trade Agreement. The opening of non-tariff trade with economies such as India is a key to job growth in the export sector.

As you can see we’re getting on with the job of building a much stronger economy to provide genuine opportunities for our children and grandchildren.

Chris Tremain

The team at Community Link are to be congratulated for the outstanding work they have done in recent months; supporting Wairoa Affco workers through the contract negotiations and Wairoa farmers through the recent floods with Taskforce Green workers. Having all these services under one roof should provide clients with a seamless service.

One of the things that I discussed with Mayor Les Probert, at the Community Link opening, was the series of meetings currently being held regarding Economic Development for Wairoa. I’m supportive of the Mayors drive here 110%. The reality is that we need more jobs in Wairoa. We need real jobs from real businesses. Sure the Government can provide short term employment schemes but that’s only tinkering. What Wairoa needs is more businesses providing long term sustainable jobs.

The Government has been focusing on ensuring communities such as Wairoa have the economic framework to encourage business start-ups and growth. That’s why we’ve been so focused on getting the tax system competitive against Australia. We’ve done that. That’s why we’ve invested and will continue to invest so heavily in infrastructure such as the roll-out of broadband and new roading (Matahorua Gorge). That’s why we’re so focused on trade, as evidenced by the PM’s current trip to India this week working towards a further Free Trade Agreement. That’s why we’re investing so heavily in education with the likes of the ‘Service Academy’ at Wairoa College.

It’s why we’re so focused on controlling Government spending so that the private sector grows not the government sector. We need new jobs in the export sector (paid for by businesses), not the Government (paid for by you the taxpayer).
And it’s also one of the key reasons we’re looking to sell up to 49% of five State Owned Assets. We need new capital to invest in our nation’s future and by selling some of our assets, while still maintaining majority control over them, gives us the capital necessary to invest in new opportunities such as water irrigation on the Heretaunga plains. Sure we could borrow to do it, but we think we’ve borrowed enough just recently and need to find other means to finance new opportunities.
Tourism, added-value primary processing facilities, and additional timber processing are genuine export possibilities which should be pursued for Wairoa.

Speaking of tourism opportunities I visited the Morere Hot Springs following the opening of the Wairoa Community Link. I had been asked up there to view the ‘Hot Springs’ by both locals and DOC staff. We walked up the track and clambered over the colossal land-slip which has temporarily put the top “Hot Spring” out of action. DOC staff are working hard to remedy this as quickly as possible, but it’s a tough job in cramped conditions. It’s been a long time since I’d been to the Springs so I’d forgotten just how beautiful and accessible the bush and birdlife is. The current DOC consent comes up for review in about a year. I think there is a wonderful opportunity for an Eco-Hotel and Spa to be considered providing excellent employment opportunities for locals.

It’s opportunities like this which will genuinely put Wairoa on the map and springboard other business opportunities into the area. I for one will be working hard with both the local council and iwi to investigate these opportunities over coming months and years.

Chris Tremain