SSky

Yea tax off the 'food staples' would be such a good thing for this country and get rid of it off kids clothes and shoes too. It's complete rubbish isn't it that it would be too complicated to do!

BEVS

I'd go along with that even if it meant a rise in taxes which it would as the govt would lose that revenue.

How about doing as suggested with losing the gst on food , kids clothing etc and perhaps introducing a

scrubbedexpat094

Absolutely. I do get fed up of the Countdown etc. adverts offering low prices on fizzy drinks, crisps, chocolate etc. every other week. How refreshing it would be to see the same mark downs on fruit and vegetables instead.

Removing GST off staple items would have the cost benefit of potentially having a healthier society and therefore reducing costs on health services. Reduce obesity and you reduce the risk of diabetes, CHD, cancer.....
Obviously this is just one small part of a larger problem. I agree that Capital Gains Tax needs implementing to a much greater degree.

LoCarb

Strictly speaking, raising taxes wouldn't be necessary as government is already talking of tax cuts (and govt issues the currency anyway, so no problem there).

But I do go along with a capital gains tax as a deterrent to property speculation and to redistribute wealth, although Australia has a CGT and that hasn't stopped their property going through the roof!

chocolate cake

Tax cuts are a bad idea, in supposedly recovering economy we should be paying back debt or least recommencing payments to the super fund which the Nats stopped. Also proper consideration should be given to the age of super ann, instead of deferring the inevitable decision until after Key leaves, short term-ism.

Agree with idea of GST off food, instead we've seen increased GST in the previous parliament to fund a so called tax cut. And likewise short term privatization to do likewise.

A proper Capital Gains Tax is a good tax, not because it will depress property prices, it probably won't, but instead because it's fair tax.

Tom H

Child poverty????

I thought there was no such thing. Chinas favourite MP, the lovable Judith Collins insists it's all down to poor parenting.

Must have heard different

LoCarb

Private debt: yes.

Government debt: no, because it's not a real debt. It's called a debt but isn't.

If government paid back all it's "debt" there would be no money left in the economy other than bank loans, and when they were paid off there would be no money at all!
So, not likely to happen.