"Business New Zealand and the Chambers of Commerce are understandably keen to see the back of the Clark government," said Libertarianz Leader and Tauranga Candidate Russell Watkins today, but warned their "enthusiasm for getting Clark's foot off their throats should not blind them into replacing it with Bill's - they should be careful becoming cheerleaders for the blandishments of mediocrity from the National Party." Watkins suggests they should instead take a close look at the policies of Libertarianz.: "They will see that the National Party policies are third-rate for business."

"Business should note that Libertarianz is the only party dedicated to a clear separation of business from the state," points out Watkins, who maintains that the state should not be in business, and the only laws on business should be to protect property rights and the integrity of contractual commitments. Taxation, he says, should be cut as soon as possible "and dramatically. Taxes that impose a particularly heavy burden on business such as GST and fringe benefits tax should be abolished immediately."

Watkins says that unlike the Nats, Libertarianz understands that if taxes are cut then spending must be cut as well - "and we have a whole rats' nest of quangoes, agencies, departments and ministries just crying out for extermination! Libertarianz would get out the pesticide!" he says. "Unlike the Nats."

To compare eight of the key pro-capitalist policies of Libertarianz with the limp wristed wimpishness of the National Party, Watkins produced the simple table (see below). He emphasised that for Libertarianz these policies are only the first step, whereas those of National's were by their own confession "long-term goals."

"Long term businesses have only one choice.Policies like Labours' and the Nats, which keep your business shackled- or policies like the Libz' that burst those shackles. The choice,' says Watkins, "is yours."

Libertarianz
Taxation:
Abolish GST and all other taxes except flat income/company tax of 15%.
Abolish provisional tax system.
Burden of proof on tax cases to fall on IRD, not tax-victims.

RMA:
Repeal forthwith, and replace with laws protecting private property rights.

Business:
Repeal all laws that restrict the right of business to trade voluntarily, including laws on holiday trading.
Strengthen contract law.

Employment:
Repeal Employment Relations Act, replace with contract based employment law. Abolish minimum wage laws.

Govt in business:
Separate state and business completely. Privatise all state-owned enterprises and require local government to privatise LATEs. Proceeds of sales to eliminate central and local government debt.

Local Govt:
Repeal Sandra Lee's local government reforms, restrict local government to specified core activities, require rates to be reduced progressively.

Foreign:
Abolish tariffs on imports and restrictions on trade and foreign investment.

ACC:
Open employment, motor vehicle and personal accident cover up to full competition, and privatise ACC. Ultimately reinstate tort liability for personal injury by accident

National

Taxation:
Cut top rate of income tax to 32%,and company tax to 30%.

RMA:
Have a "review" (chaired by the author of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act).

Business:
Reduce compliance costs (somehow).

Employment:
Amend Employment Relations Act (somehow).

Govt in Business:
Sell Kiwibank. Set up new quango to "pick winners".

Local Govt:
No policy. At all.

Foreign:
Unknown.

ACC:
Open up employment to competition, and maintain compulsion to insure.

It's enough to make you vote Libertarianz!

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