Kiwiblog

Incredible. For the third time Goff is unable to answer the CGT question about in what year does it first bring in revenue.

You can see it in the video above, by Whale. After muffing it in The Press debate, and then muffing it on The Nation on yesterday, how on God’s earth did he not look up the policy. We all make mistakes, but to not be able to answer the question after two previous maulings is just idiotic.

Goff was also very unimpressive on other details. Couldn’t say how the Capital Gains tax would work, had no numbers around jobs, and in the finale refused (three times) to say whether or not he trusts Winston Peters – whom is his only lifeline to power.

Can you imagine a Labour-led Government with Phil Goff needing to get the Greens, Maori Party, NZ First and Mana to agree to every budget, and every law? It would have no stability and definitely no direction.

UPDATE: Transcript below:

GUYON Okay, the capital gains tax is part of a major tax switch, isn’t it, which includes the increase in the top tax rate, the GST off fruit and vegetables, etc. Under your plan, what is the first year you gain any additional revenue from your tax switch and how much do you get?

PHIL Well, from 2015, 16, we’re back into surplus, and by 2021, we’ve paid off the debt a year faster than National.

GUYON What is the first year that you gain any additional revenue from your tax switch and how much is it?

PHIL I think it’s about 2016, 17. Again, I don’t carry all those figures in my head.

GUYON Well, it’s 2018, 19. It’s a long way off.

As Guyon points out, that means it is two full terms of Parliament before their “tax switch” actually brings in additional revenue.

Coming up this Sunday on Q + A

EXCLUSIVE
On Q+A this Sunday morning we have an exclusive interview with the man tipped to be Pakistan’s next Prime Minister – cricket legend Imran Khan.
In a frank interview with Guyon Espiner, Khan talks about his ambitions, the crooks that run Pakistan, America’s drones, the failed war against terrorists and his very personal and candid account of having to face death.

LAW & ORDER
Last election it was the three strikes law. What will ACT’s law and order policy be this time?
Paul Holmes previews Don Brash’s big law and order speech with the ACT leader. Do we need to get even tougher on crime? Or have we tipped too far already?

SOCIAL WELFARE
And then one of the most hotly contested debates this election, Social Welfare.
So before the politicians start campaigning, Guyon Espiner talks to Peter Hughes, the outgoing head of the Ministry of Social Development. Named public sector boss of the year two years running and the man who does the hard work of helping struggling Kiwis find work, we’ll talk about the difficulties of getting people off welfare and what needs to change.

PANEL
Joining Dr Claire Robinson on the panel this week are political strategist John Pagani and former ACT MP Stephen Franks.

Q+A, 9-10am Sundays on TV ONE.
Repeats at 9.10pm Sundays, 10.10am and 2.10pm Mondays on TVNZ 7

Q+A kicks off with a 90-second news update at the top of the programme, with all the latest from overnight.

Then our two biggest cities go under the microscope. First, we’re live in Christchurch on the first anniversary of the first quake with Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee. In front of the iconic cathedral, Guyon Espiner will ask the minister about the government’s performance so far and where it goes from here?

We’ll also hear briefly from Clayton Cosgrove about what Labour thinks should be happening in the garden city.

Then, Auckland’s big dream.  The new super city council has a draft plan for the next 30 years – who pays and can it deliver? Has it got its priorities right? Mayor Len Brown is live in the studio with Paul Holmes.

Finally, just days out from the Rugby World Cup, the head man Martin Snedden joins us to talk about the impact the next six weeks of rugby will have on this country. Are we ready and excited? Or have the recent corporate controversies taken a toll?

Joining Dr Jon Johansson on the panel are Auckland Chamber of Commerce CEO Michael Barnett and former Christchurch mayor Garry Moore.

Q+A, 9-10am Sundays on TV ONE. Repeats at 9.10pm Sundays, 10.10am and 2.10pm Mondays on TVNZ 7

On Q+A this week: The Spirit Level has been one of the most influential political books of the past decade, even if strictly speaking it’s not about politics. Its thesis: That the gap between rich and poor is making us sicker, sadder and more violent. So with inequality set to become a major election issue, we speak to the author of The Spirit Level, Prof. Richard Wilkinson. Will reducing inequality reduce our other social problems? Or is it more complicated than that? And does such intervention risk stifling entrepreneurship, creativity and individual freedoms?

Then, tens of thousands of tourists will touchdown in New Zealandover the next few weeks, expecting a 100% pure experience. What will they make of our polluted lakes and rivers? Is the farming that drives our economy now putting our prosperity in jeopardy? Is it time to ask more of our farmers? We’ll debate the issue with Federated Farmers President Bruce Wills and Environmental Scientist Mike Joy.

On the panel this week, Political Analyst Dr Claire Robinson is joined by Chief Executive of the Waipareira Trust and former Cabinet minister John Tamihere and Business New Zealand CEO Phil O’Reilly.

Q+A, 9-10am Sundays on TV ONE.  Repeats at 9.10pm Sundays, 10.10am and 2.10pm Mondays on TVNZ 7       

On Q+A this Sunday… National’s partial state assets sales are shaping to be one of the most contentious issues of this year’s election. So sensitive, National refuses to debate them. ACT and Labour will, however. So live this Sunday with Guyon Espiner, ACT leader Don Brash and Labour’s Finance Spokesman David Cunliffe debate the pros and cons of selling shares in three power companies, a mining company and an airline. What do we stand to gain… and lose? Will we be better off with the cash or the assets?

Then, John Minto is putting aside the placard and megaphone to stand for parliament on behalf of the Mana Party. Thirty years on from the Springbok Tour that made him a polarising national figure, why has he chosen this election to seek office? What does he stand for now? And what are his chances?

Finally, Mark Sedwill was NATO’s civilian boss in Afghanistanand is now Britain’s Special Representative on Afghanistan/Pakistan. He’s in New Zealand next week to brief our government, but will speak to Paul  Holmes via satellite from London. With the fighting season in full swing and casualty rates in the past year at record highs, what’s the plan from here? And what message will he be delivering to theNew Zealand cabinet?

Joining Dr Jon Johansson on the panel will be CTU President Helen Kelly and former National Party President and PR consultant Michelle Boag.

This week on Q+A, the price of milk, the high dollar and the future of emissions trading.

As milk price rises and calls for action grow louder, Guyon Espiner speaks with the two decision-makers at the heart of the issue – Fonterra Chief executive Andrew Ferrier and the Agriculture Minister David Carter. Why has the price leapt so high in the past three years? Who has the power to act? And what can be done for Kiwi families? Also, with the dollar around post-float highs, how tenuous is life for our exporters and what should the government do to help, if anything? And with Fonterra this week questioning agriculture’s planned inclusion in the Emissions Trading Scheme, is a government u-turn imminent?

And later, millionaire businessman Colin Craig has formed a new party to challenge ACT and National for the right wing vote. What are his ambitions? What does he stand for? And who’s standing with him? He’ll speak with Paul Holmes live in the studio.

Joining Dr Jon Johansson on the panel are NZ Food & Grocery Council CEO and former National MP Katherine Rich and former Labour and Progressive party strategist and columnist John Pagani.

Q+A, 9-10am Sundays on TV ONE.  Repeats at 9.10pm Sundays, 10.10am and 2.10pm Mondays on TVNZ 7       

Q+A features leading scientists Robert, Lord Winston and Sir Peter Gluckman on protecting our most vulnerable children this Sunday.

Following the government’s controversial green paper this week, we’ll ask what can be done in those early years and what science can teach us?  Then, the politics. Labour is pushing a child-centred policy, so what solutions can deputy leader Annette King offer?

Paul Holmes looks at the battle for the presidency of the Maori Women’s Welfare League that’s gone all the way to court. Destiny  Church leader and presidential candidate Hannah Tamaki talks about her aspirations and the controversy that’s dogged her campaign.

Joining Dr Jon Johansson on the panel are Maxim Institute Chief Executive Greg Fleming and former Human Rights Commissioner and academic Ella Henry.

Q+A, 9-10am Sundays on TV ONE.  Repeats at 9.10pm Sundays, 10.10am and 2.10pm Mondays on TVNZ 7       

TVNZ preview

Q+A has an American special to mark John Key’s visit.

Guyon Espiner is in the United States, and will be conducting three interviews.  He will  start by speaking with the Prime Minister on the continuing NZ-USA trade talks, as well as this week’s allegations of Israeli spying in NZ.

Then Guyon will talk with US Congressman Rick Larsen; to get the American perspective on NZ-US relations and trade – are the Americans prepared to relax their agricultural tariffs, will they play hardball on reducing or even eliminating the role of Pharmac?

And finally we get an update on the current situation in US politics with ABC News’ Senior Political Correspondent Jonathan Karl.

Paul Holmes will be moderating the panel live in Auckland and be joined by Dr Jon Johansson and Fran O’Sullivan.

Q+A, 9-10am Sundays on TV ONE.  Repeats at 9.10pm Sundays, 10.10am and 2.10pm Mondays on TVNZ 7

Phil Goff keeps repeating that he didn’t take any action against Hughes, as it would prejudice the Police investigation. This is frankly a bullshit argument (and also against what he has argued himself in the past). I’m amazed the media do not challenge him more on this point.

John Key sacked Richard Worth, while he was under investigation by the Police over a sexual offence complaint. This did not interfere with the Police investigation. And in fact Richard Worth was not charged by the Police.

Likewise it is entirely common for an employer to take disciplinary action against an employee in regard to alleged criminal offending, without waiting for charges to be laid.

Helen Clark took action against several of her MPs, who were under Police investigation. And again this did not interfere with the Police investigation (her staff buring forged paintings did, but that is another matter).

The panel on Q+A is flailing Goff for his inaction. It’s almost brutal.

For the sake of any future party leaders, here’s the general guide to how a party leader should handle allegations against an MP of this nature.

1. When the MP first tells you, immediately bring in a witness to your conversation – probably your chief of staff
2. Do not make any commitments to the MP. Tell them that you need to gather pertinent information before you make a decision.
3. Tell the MP that you want them to tell the Chief of Staff everything that happened. Warn them that they must be 100% truthful, no matter how embarrassing, and that if they omit any pertinent details, then they will have lost your confidence and will be sacked.
4. The CoS interviews the MP. The MP should firstly be asked to detail what happened from their perspective, and also what the complainant is alleging. If they have been interviewed by the Police (as Hughes was), then they will be fully aware of what the allegations are.
5. The MP should also be asked what witnesses, if any, there are to some or all of the incident.
6. If possible the CoS should talk to some of the witnessees if they are friendly to your party – ie other MPs, staff, activists.
7. The CoS then reports back to the Leader with two scenarios – the “best case” scenario of everything the MP has told you is true, and the “worst case” scenario being that everything alleged is true.
8. The CoS should also report on how many people probably know of the incident, which will give you an idea of how likely it is the incident will become public – or more realisticaly simply how long it will take.
9. The Leader then looks at the best case scenario. Assume the MP’s version of events is 100% correct. Ask yourself whether even their version of events is survivable. In the Hughes case, it would be “Regardless of consent, can you politically endure an incident where a naked 18 year old, less than three months out of school, ran naked out of the house of your deputy leader at 5 am after going home with your chief whip after ten hours of drinking”
10. If it is clear it is not survivable, then you discuss exit strategies wiht the MP.
11. If the MPs version of events is survivable, then you look at the worst case scenario - are the allegations against your MP so bad, that they couldn’t do their job until the Police decide whether to charge or not. If the MP is accussed of murder, rape or other extremely serious crimes, then you have them step down until the Police make a decision.
12. If the allegations against the MP are not the worst type of criminal offending, but more “minor” offences such as assault, then it may not be necessary to have them step down. However you would probably urge the MP to front-foot the issue, rather than keep it quiet until the media find out.
13. Once the Leader has the report from their Chief of Staff, they should also brief appropriate people on what has happened and the leader’s proposed course of action. This would normally be the Deputy Leader, Chief Whip and Party President.

As far as I can tell Goff did none of this. They just sat on it for three weeks and hoped it would go away.

Note that nothing in the above involves the Leader having to make a judgement on who is correct – the MP or the complainant. It is all about just considering the best and worst case outcomes.

TVNZ says:

Q+A kicks off with an exclusive interview with Australian foreign minister Kevin Rudd.

Weeks ago Rudd was leading international calls to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya, so we talk to him about the unfolding conflict there and how it all might end. Has the West got its approach right in relation to Libya and other countries in the Middle East facing popular uprisings? And what’s the state of NZ-Australia relations?

Later, in a tale of two cities, Paul Holmes interviews the mayors of Auckland and Christchurch, Len Brown and Bob Parker. Our two largest cities are facing fresh starts, so what’s planned and how will they pay for their mayoral visions? Is it all hot air? And are some tough choices ahead?

Joining Dr Jon Johansson on the panel will be the Rt. Hon. Sir Don McKinnon, former Commonwealth Secretary-General and Chair of Auckland’s Regional Facilities organisation, and Unite union leader and newspaper columnist Matt McCarten.

Q + A is broadcast live 9-10am Sunday on TV ONE and repeated at 9.10pm on Sunday nights and 10.10am and 2.10pm on Mondays on TVNZ 7. 

(TVNZ 7 screens on Freeview Channel 7 and Sky TV Channel 77). 

Rudd should be interesting on Libya as he has partly led the charge there. I imagine they will ask him a bit about the results of the NSW State elections tonight also.

TVNZ proclaims:

Paul Holmes and Guyon Espiner return to co-host TVNZ’s flagship political programme in this crucial election year along with Victoria University’s Dr Jon Johansson who will lead the panel of expert political analysts. 

 The new series of Q+A kicks off with a feature interview at 9am this Sunday with Prime Minister, John Key, looking at our new world after the earthquakes.

 We have a television exclusive with renowned author, film-maker and political campaigner Tariq Ali, about the jasmine revolutions in the Middle-East, what has sparked them and what’s likely to emerge to replace the dictatorships.  Tariq is visiting NZ and will be live in the Q+A studio on Sunday morning.

 Q+A returns to its usual slot – LIVE on TV ONE 9-10am Sundays.

I must set the My Sky!

Infonews reports:

Highly regarded current affairs programmes Q+A and The Nation will return to New Zealand television screens next year, with funding from NZ On Air.

The funding agency announced today it will continue supporting the two programmes through its special Platinum Fund.

NZ On Air chief executive Jane Wrightson said TVNZ will receive $798,000 to produce 38 episodes of Q+A. Front Page Ltd will receive $972,000 to produce 36 episodes of The Nation for TV3.

“Both series provide an important point of difference for television current affairs,” Ms Wrightson said. “Public funding allows such programmes to exist outside the demands of commercial prime time. Each programme provides a special opportunity for thoughtful interviews with leading news makers, accompanied by insightful analysis.”

I’m glad NZ on Air is keeping them both going. In an election year especially we need shows like them.

Kris Faafoi, the Labour candidate for Mana must have been a child prodigy. On Q+A yesterday he said:

KRIS
Yeah, I was born and raised in Christchurch. My parents are Tokelauan. The biggest percentage of Tokelauans in New Zealand are right in Porirua East. I’ve been kicking around there since I was a youngster. I remember when the McDonald’s came in; I was there when the Mitsubishi factory was going strong.

McDonalds opened up their first NZ store in Porirua in 1976.

Now I understand Kris is 34 years old, which means he was born in 1976. So Kris must have been an exceptional toddler to remember McDonalds coming in, when he was less than a year old.

UPDATE: Whale Oil has photographic evidence of Kris being in attendance at other historical events, such as the Lee Harvey Oswald assassination, the Arafat-Rabin peace accords and storming the beaches of Normandy.

TVNZ says:

Guyon Espiner will be live from Sydney to talk about the result of the Australian election – the winners and losers and all the morning-after reaction.

Paul Holmes interviews Justice Minister Simon Power about the government’s plan for liquor reform. How will the government respond to the Law Commission’s 153 recommendations and can they tackle our binge-drinking culture?

We have a special Christchurch mayoral debate. Mayor Bob Parker and Progressives leader Jim Anderton go head-to-head for Christchurch’s mayoral chains. What do they have planned for the mainland’s big city?

On the panel with Dr Therese Arseneau are lawyer and former ACT MP Stephen Franks and NZ Food & Grocery Council CEO and former National MP Katherine Rich.

Plus we’ll get the word from the blogsphere, David Farrar of Kiwiblog and Bomber Bradbury from Tumeke are on live.

Except we are not on live. We did pre-records.

Will be a very interesting show. Anderton v Parker, plus the Aussie elections plus the alcohol law changes.

TVNZ announced:

TV ONE’s political programme, Q+A will host the first Auckland super city mayoral debate LIVE this Sunday morning.

Mayors Andrew Williams, John Banks and Len Brown will be together for the first time on TV to debate who should be the inaugural super mayor of Auckland. All three sitting mayors join Q+A host Paul Holmes to discuss their vision for the future of the country’s biggest city.

What do they stand for? Who are they? What plans do the have to deal with Auckland’s traffic, waterfront and difficult transition into a single, unified city? Holmes will get the answers in this extended debate on Q+A, this Sunday, August 1 from 9am on TV One

Viewers who have questions for these leading candidates can email them in to: Q+A@tvnz.co.nz

The decision to include Andrew Williams is a strange one as he will not even come third in my opinion. Either the debate should be the two leading contenders or all the Mayoral candidates. Ewen Gilmour should be there, if Williams is there. And at least Ewen is funny on purpose.

TVNZ says:

On Q + A this Sunday:

Guyon Espiner interviews Police & Corrections Minister Judith Collins about guns and prisons. Recent shootings have re-ignited the gun debate. Is it time to clamp down? And as our prison muster hits new heights, are National’s policies making our communities safer?

With unions and bosses at odds once again, Paul Holmes is joined by Council of Trade Unions General Secretary Helen Kelly and Employers & Manufacturers’ boss Alasdair Thompson. Will 90-day trials, union access and more sick notes create jobs and improve productivity or just create more tension in the workplace? How big could this fight get?

Dr Therese Arseneau is joined on the panel by ACT leader and cabinet minister Richard Prebble and Unite Union head Matt McCarten.

Q + A is broadcast live 9-10am Sunday on TV ONE and repeated at 9.10pm on Sunday nights and 10.10am and 2.10pm on Mondays on TVNZ 7.

(TVNZ 7 screens on Freeview Channel 7 and Sky TV Channel 97).

Prebble and McCarten could be an interesting mix on the panel.

The Herald reports:

The Government is considering making it unlawful for adults to give alcohol to young people without their parents’ consent.

At present, under-18s can be given liquor without consent if they are in private homes or at private functions.

Justice Minister Simon Power says parental consent is one of the liquor issues he is looking at but stresses that a change is not a certainty.

“This is a really delicate balance because National is not in the business of getting into people’s homes on issues like this and telling them how to run their lives,” he said last night.

“But the sheer proliferation of outlets and the time that liquor is now available definitely changes the framing of this debate.”

Mr Power said parents had asked for such a move to help deal with teenage drinking. “I do think there is starting to emerge a view from parents that they would like some more assistance from the law to be able to have a firmer view on how their children are supplied with alcohol.”

At present it is totally legal for an adult to give a 14 year old a bottle of vodka. It is also totally legal for that 14 year old to share it with his or her friends. And they can drink that bottle of vodka in public view on the front lawn of a private residence, and the Police can do nothing about it.

I am supportive of the Government bringing in law changes to make it illegal to supply alcohol to under 18 year olds. The tougher issue is how to define the exceptions. Most people would support a parental exception- you can argue about whether it should be a total exception, or only for kids over a certain age (say 14) and also whether there should be a requirement for any alcohol supplied to be done so in a “responsible” manner.

The other issue is whether parents can authorise another adult (ie parents of a friend) to legally supply alcohol, and does such consent need to be in writing, or implied. In this case one would also expect any supply to be done responsibly, which probably means an adult must supervise – and that adult can be held legally liable for any irresponsible drinking (such as that which has led to 10 teenagers drinking themselves to death).

A law which makes it illegal to supply alcohol to 14 year olds will be far more effective, than making it illegal for  19 year olds to have a glass of wine in a restaurant over dinner.

To that end it was pleasing to see Simon Power state on Q+A that if there was a conscience vote on the purchase age, he would vote to keep it 18.

Guyon Espiner interviews Sir Geoffrey Palmer at the International Whaling Commission conference in Agadir. It’s crunch time for the IWC as negotiations go long into the night – can they do a deal to allow limited commercial whaling? Will that save more whales? Or will it open the door and betray years of conservation efforts?

Guyon also talks to Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson. Is the foreshore and seabed deal done this week an end to the controversy or just the end of the beginning? How will the new law work and how will it affect us all?

Paul Holmes interviews newly promoted MPs Grant Roberston and Charles Chauvel.  Can they help the party re-connect with voters? Has Labour put the spending scandal behind it with its new blood?

Dr Therese Arseneau is joined by Tainui Chair and former MP Tuku Morgan and Unite General Secretary and columnist Matt McCarten on the panel.

Looks to be an interesting programme:

Guyon Espiner will delve into the eight boxes of documents released under the OIA this week and spell out the scale of the MPs credit card use.

Paul Holmes will talk to former party presidents Mike Williams from Labour and Michelle Boag from National. They know the MPs, the culture and the day-to-day pressure that our politicians are under. Is there a culture of hubris, or are our MPs misunderstood?

Then, New Zealand’s constitution. National and the Maori Party are committed to a constitutional review. In a special debate, former prime ministers and constitutional heavyweights Jim Bolger and Mike Moore talk to Paul Holmes about whether we need a written constitution, about the MMP referendum, the status of the Treaty of Waitangi, republicanism and more. Do we need to rein in our politicians?

Dr Jon Johansson from Victoria University will be joined by Tainui chair and former New Zealand First MP Tukuroirangi Morgan plus lawyer and former ACT MP Stephen Franks on the panel.

Tuku will feel vindicated, as it was Labour who went after him for his $79 undies!

The interview is here. Some extracts:

GUYON Thank you Phil for joining us this morning, we really appreciate your time.  Thursday’s Budget we’re almost certain to see a rise in GST to 15%.  Now I know you’re looking possibly at some exemptions to GST, but can you say that Labour would restore the general level of GST back to 12ý%, should you be elected in 2011?

PHIL GOFF - Opposition Leader
No I can’t make that promise because I don’t know whether it’ll be financially viable, or whether the situation can be reversed in that way.

Yet that didn’t stop Phil doing a taxpayer funded nationwide bus tour called “Axe the tax”. He doesn’t even believe in his own slogan.

GUYON The Sunday Star Times this morning, asks 50 prominent New Zealanders to ask questions of John Key. One of them’s from Colin Meads, and he asks whether the government is doing too much for the Maori people.  Can I ask his question to you?  Is the government doing too much for Maori people?

PHIL I think it’s doing the wrong thing, it’s entirely about symbolism, you know a flag over the Harbour Bridge – what we should be looking at is the 37% of Maori boys aged 15 to 19 who are currently not in work, not in education and not in training.  Are we doing too much there?  No, we’re not doing enough, and that spells out economic and social disaster for this country if we tolerate that situation.

Again, part of the problem here is Labour abolishing the lower minimum wage rate for teenagers. An unskilled 16 year old seeking their first job is simply often not going to get hired at $12.75 an hour. Labour have priced young workers off the market.

If a 17 year old can get a part-time job at say $10/hr, then in a couple of years they will have the skills and experience to get a higher paid paid.

Q+A interviewed former Labour PM and NZ’s rep to the IWC, Sir Geoffrey Palmer:

GEOFFREY No I’m saying that’s the number of permits that are issued, the number of – they don’t always kill the number that they issue permits for, they’re killing on average over 1600 whales a year right now commercially.

GUYON So how many will be killed after this proposal should it go ahead?

GEOFFREY We don’t know because that hasn’t been negotiated yet, but unless it’s a substantial reduction it won’t be worth countries like New Zealand considering, it has to be a substantial reduction, that’s the whole purpose of this exercise.

And this is what Labour is campaigning against – a substantial reduction in whaling. They are saying best to have futile protests against whaling, rather than actually achieve a reduction.

GUYON You’re saying that the moratorium on commercial whaling won’t actually be lifted, under what grounds then will whales be killed under this proposal?

GEOFFREY They’ll be killed under an interim arrangement that for ten years there will be an ability for the Whaling Commission to function. This is one of the worst international organisations we have, it is completely dysfunctional, it is a place where there are enormous disputes. For the last two years there’s been a complicated international negotiation going on, to try and bring it together so it can work, because if it doesn’t work it will collapse, and if it collapses there’ll be nothing to protect the whales.

People don’t realise that Japan and allies are close to gaining a majority on the IWC, which would allow them to remove all barriers on whaling. That will be great for the protest movement but not so good for the whales.

GUYON This is though with all respect, a major change in New Zealand’s position on whaling. I mean we have had a staunch opposition to any form of commercial whaling and now we’re saying that we are potentially supporting a proposal that would allow that under certain grounds.

GEOFFREY We’re not saying that, we’re saying that we have to do something to fix the position of whales and make it better so fewer are killed. We’re not supporting commercial whaling, I don’t think New Zealand will ever support that. The question is how you achieve your objectives. The only other way of looking at this question is to offer to litigate at the International Court of Justice as Australia is offering to do, we regard that as a very uncertain proposition at all, and if that case were lost the situation would be worse than it is now.

Yet Chris Carter continues to misrepresent even his former Leader, on this issue by claiming NZ is supporting commercial whaling.

Q+A is tomorrow at 9 am on One.

• Rodney Hide is the main interview on the ACT conference, their agenda, their future and relationship with National
• Paul Reynolds is interviewed by Paul Homes on the XT outages and 111 problems
• Panel this week is Michelle Boag, Mike Williams and Therese Arseneau

• Guyon Espiner interviews Bill English on the recovery, taxes and investments
• Paul Holmes interviews Helen Clark on Haiti, climate change and the UNDP
• Panel is Matt Robson, Fran O’Sullivan and Jon Johanson

On TV One from 9 am to 10 am.

Tomorrow on Q+A at 9 am on TV One:

• Main Interview: Allan Bollard, Reserve Bank Governor
• Second Interview: Anne Tolley and Ernie Buutveld (NZ Principals Federation)
• Panel: Therese, Sir Douglas Graham, Matt McCarten

Some extracts from an interesting interview:

GUYON You spoke in your speech a lot about tax as well, and again you returned to that equity and fairness argument, and I want to quote from that, you said too many people on good incomes avoid and evade paying taxes.  Now I’ve looked through the MP’s Register of Pecuniary Interests, and I see you don’t have a family trust or a trust listed there, so I presume that you personally do and always have paid the top tax rate.

PHIL I’ve the top tax rate, I’ve always paid every dollar in tax that I’ve been required to pay and I’m  proud to pay that tax because that’s how we fun our education our health system.

GUYON Is that the case for your caucus, because when you look through that Register of Interests, there are a lot of your own MPs who have trusts, and can structure their finance and their assets so they do not pay the top tax rate, do you include those people in the people who are being unfair by not paying the top tax rate?

PHIL If you have a system that allows people to avoid paying tax, they would avoid paying taxes, what you have to do is get the system right.  What I guess offends me is that most people, average working New Zealanders, wage and salary earners they don’t evade, they don’t avoid their tax, they can’t, but when you see the list of the top hundred income earners in this country and half of them are paying less tax as a proportion of their income than the people right at the top, you say there’s something wrong with the system.

GUYON Something wrong, a lot of people would agree with that, but can I return to that, have you asked those MPs, I mean is it fair that they’re not paying the top tax rate, all of them are paid over $140,000 at least yet they’re able to structure their finances in that way.  When you gave a speech and said that was unfair had you checked with your own caucus to see whether those people are paying the top tax rate and paying for the roads and hospitals and schools of New Zealand?

PHIL Yeah, I’ve got absolute confidence that every one of my MPs is paying all the tax that they should be paying …

Good to see this question put to Goff. Cactus Kate was the first to raise it – the hypocrisy of railing against wealthy people avoiding the top tax rate, and having a third of your caucus using trusts to minimise their own tax liability.

If you want to reduce tax avoidance in NZ, then the best way to do it is to lower the top tax rate.

If Goff continues to go on about how wealthy people should not avoid the top tax rate, then he should be challenged to ban his caucus members from having family trusts!

GUYON The top 10% of income earners though, they pay 44% of all the tax, is that fair?

PHIL Well they earn probably over 40% of the income, so proportionately yes.

Actually the top 10% of income earners pay 76% of net taxation (taking into account working for families etc). And what people shouold be worried about is not how to tax them even more, but what it will mean if those 10% leave NZ in significant numbers!

GUYON Shane Jones said this week that it was his mission to drive the Maori Party out of parliament.  Now how smart is it for the Labour Party under MMP to actually annihilate a potential coalition partner, leaving them only with the Greens and leaving you with almost no chance of forming the next government.

PHIL Well if the electorate will make that decision but Shane was speaking from heart and he was saying this.

GUYON Is he speaking with your authority?

PHIL I’m comfortable with his comments.

GUYON You want the Maori Party out of parliament?

PHIL No no.

Yet Shane Jones does. Goff them tries to have it both ways.

GUYON No no hang on hang on, that’s what he said, sorry Mr Goff, do you want the Maori Party out of parliament?

PHIL Look if there is a question of whether there are seven Maori seats that are Labour Party or Maori Party held I want them all to be Labour Party held.

GUYON So you don’t want to work with the Maori Party potentially?

PHIL No, no, that’s a different question.

GUYON But if you’re trying to extinguish them, there’s no chance at all is there?

PHIL In a democratic competition of course every one of our Labour candidates in the Maori electorates will be seeking to win those seats and I’ll be right behind them, and I’d like 100%.  The second question you ask is a slightly different one.  Will we work with the Maori Party while they’re in parliament, of course we will, if we think that’s in the interests of the country, as would any other party.

GUYON So let’s get this straight.  You want to drive the Maori Party out of parliament, but should they actually remain so you’ll work with them?

Would have been interesting at this point to have asked Goff if he wants Winston back in Parliament, and does he want the Greens there?

GUYON Will you resign on election night should Labour lose as Helen Clark did?

PHIL I don’t have a plan B for election night, and it’s not about losing.

GUYON I think I heard a similar phrase before, but thanks very much for coming and joining us this morning.

A very similar phrase indeed.

To be fair, I don’t think Phil Goff does have a Plan B for election night. He said that Plan B is not about losing. That must mean Plan A is about Labour losing!