Friday, June 11, 2004
Beehive Bulletin
Families would not benefit from tax cuts
The government's $2.75 billion Working for Families package boosts the incomes of working families more than any tax
cuts package ever could. Social Development and Employment Minister Steve Maharey says it's time for political parties
advocating tax cuts to admit that slashing taxes would benefit single people and couples without children on high
incomes - and make no real difference to the weekly earnings of low-and-middle income working families.
For example, a two-parent single-income family with four children earning $55,000 will gain an extra $150 per week from
the Working for Families package. Steve Maharey says to boost their income by the same level, tax rates would have to
reduce to a flat rate of 9.5 cents in the dollar - about half what even ACT is promoting - funded by cuts to essential
family services.
New version of assessment tool
Students' literacy and numeracy skills are to get another big boost through the development of a new version of the
groundbreaking asTTle (Assessment Tools for Teaching and Learning). Education Minister Trevor Mallard says the
government is spending $700,000 on a multi-user version of the asTTle tool that can be networked across a school from
the beginning of next year.
At the push of a computer button all teachers in the school will be able to see students' results, track their progress
and immediately address any problems. AsTTle and a wide range of other literacy initiatives are targeting students who
need the most help, because as a government we are determined to lift the education standards for ALL our students, says
Trevor Mallard.
Conservation means jobs on West Coast
Public conservation lands and the activities of the Department of Conservation (DOC) on the West Coast support more
than 1800 full time jobs in the region, says a new economic study. Regional Economic Impacts Of West Coast Conservation Land was prepared by independent Christchurch-based economists, Butcher Partners, and released by Conservation Minister
Chris Carter.
It calculates that economic activity dependent on DOC and public conservation land totals $221m a year and supports
about 1814 full time equivalent jobs, most of them derived from tourism and outdoor recreation using conservation land
or dependent on its appeal. Chris Carter says the study explicitly demonstrates that the protection of natural
environments does not prevent significant economic activity arising from them. A copy of the economic study is available
from www.doc.govt.nz
New strategy on youth reoffending
A package of initiatives will bolster and improve residential services for young people. Child, Youth and Family
Minister Ruth Dyson announced the new strategy in Rolleston where work on the new 32-bed Christchurch residence has just
started.
These additional beds will meet immediate needs but Ruth Dyson says easing pressure on residences is not just about
having more beds. The new strategy looks at initiatives that support young people in the community, reduce the need for
residential placements, and takes a therapeutic approach with people who are in residences to better prepare them for
their discharge back into the community, reducing the likelihood of reoffending.
Pilot forum on drugs in Tauranga
A pilot "P, alcohol and other drugs" forum in Tauranga is being held and others may follow. Jim Anderton, chair of the
Ministerial Committee on Drug Policy, who will chair the June 17 forum, says the public needs to be informed of what the
Labour Progressive government is doing to combat the problem of drugs.
He will lead a panel of agency representatives to outline what is being done to secure our borders, how police are
working to enforce the law and what prevention strategies can be used. If the forum is successful, Jim Anderton intends
to attend further forums around the country.
Legal impediment remains for Dobson Dam
The legal impediment to the Dobson Dam power proposal remains the same as when the scheme was first mooted four years
ago, says Conservation Minister Chris Carter. The proposal requires giving a large part of Card Creek Ecological Area to
a private company in exchange for another piece of land with lesser conservation value. Card Creek was given a very high
legal status when first protected by a previous National government.
Economic use of conservation land is permitted but must not destroy the values of the land itself. Chris Carter says he
cannot exchange an ecological area for another piece of land unless he can first revoke the ecological area's legal
status - and that requires the land to no longer holds the values for which it was originally protected. If anything
they have increased at Card Creek, says Chris Carter.
Seafood Centre of Excellence site
Nelson's Seafood Centre of Excellence has secured a waterfront site. Economic Development Minister Jim Anderton, in
Nelson to mark the establishment of the new Nelson Economic Development Agency, says the centre will be located on
Nelson Port Company land, with sea frontages and sufficient space to house a museum, offices and auditorium along with
the New Zealand School of Fisheries and the Cawthron Institute.
It will be the main national centre for all aspects of training, education and research for the seafood industry and
will significantly increase the global opportunities of our seafood industry. The centre of excellence, which is gaining
a $1.5m government grant, is an example of the difference the government can make in unlocking the potential of our
regions, says Jim Anderton.
ENDS