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Mind the gap – Green New Deal initiatives to combat growing inequality in New Zealand | Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
By | May 17, 2010
We’ve discussed the income inequality gap quite a bit here in the past. It’s good to see an attempt to address it directly through policy, like here with the Greens who are launching a new initiative.
A multi-billion dollar pre-Budget proposal from the Green Party shows how the Government can help New Zealand’s poorest families and help everyone else in the process.
“Everyone has an interest in narrowing the gap between rich and poor, because inequality hurts everyone,” said Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei. “It’s become one of the defining political issues of our time.”
The proposed Budget package suggests; progressive power pricing, a tax-free $10,000 for all New Zealanders, extending the In-Work Tax Credit to 140,000 of the country’s most disadvantaged families, reinstating a discretionary Special Benefit and building 6000 state houses. Costs would be off-set by a comprehensive capital gains tax (except on the family home).
“Inequality is hurting everyone in New Zealand,” Mrs Turei said. “It lowers life expectancy in all income brackets, it increases obesity in all income brackets, it fills our hospitals and our prisons and we all pay.
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