Latest news with #ChloeSwarbrick
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Green shoots ahead for party: Swarbrick
After a turbulent beginning to this Parliament, Greens co-leader Chloe Swarbrick tells ODT political editor Mike Houlahan it is only up from here. "Forged in fire, mate," a chipper Chloe Swarbrick says as she summarises the first half of the parliamentary term from a Green Party perspective. And then some. For a start, she is sitting in the ODT offices speaking as her party's co-leader — a role she did not have at the start of the current Parliament, although many expected she would eventually rise to it. However, Ms Swarbrick replacing the now retired James Shaw was the least troublesome of the many travails which have beset the Greens. The sudden death of Fa'anānā Efeso Collins last February was followed soon after by the prolonged and messy expulsion of former MP Darleen Tana. Then her replacement, Benjamin Doyle, was placed under the blowtorch by New Zealand First leader Winston Peters. And last but not least, for much of this Ms Swarbrick was the solo leader of her party; Marama Davidson requiring time off for breast cancer treatment. "That, unfortunately, is part of being in such a snow globe of public pressure, with the spotlights on. It's not unusual to have circumstances in workplaces where things go awry, but you add to that the level of public scrutiny, which is absolutely due," Ms Swarbrick said. "I knew that, sitting around the caucus table, we had a group of people who were dedicated to a cause that was bigger than something that any one of us could create by ourselves, so I always felt like the team was working together and prioritising that bigger picture. "But in terms of the personal reflections on it all, I mean, like, I didn't really intend to be a politician, I protested so hard, I raged against the machine so hard, but I got inside the machine somehow, right? "What I take from that is, yeah, the way that we tend to conceptualise of leadership is, you know, putting somebody at the top of the pecking order and going, 'That person's going to make all the decisions and have all the glory and all the other things', and the responsibility, obviously, is on the flip side of that coin. "But I've always felt really grounded in a team that I know has my back." It is not unusual for the Green Party to feel out of step with its parliamentary colleagues — an accusation the governing parties are happy to widen out to include the entire country. It has felt more stark than usual this term though, as its MPs have been assailed as being luddite opponents of progress for questioning the need for economic growth and the requirement for natural resources to be dug up to fuel it. While many of those attacks have come from National, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's gentle urging that the Greens back the fast-track legislation are nowhere near as stinging as Mr Peters adorning the Greens' recently released alternative budget with a Soviet-era hammer and sickle or his NZ First colleague Shane Jones' exhortations to the Greens to not worry about moths or Freddy the Frog and push ahead with mining. If there is such a thing as a philosophic debate in the New Zealand Parliament, these two parties are having it. It can even be intellectual listening once the sloganeering is stripped away from it. "What they are saying is pretty boring, and it misses the mark in terms of the real debate that New Zealanders expect of the people who occupy positions of power to be having," Ms Swarbrick said. "That's part of the reason that we are currently all across the country touring the Green budget and talking to people directly about the things that matter to them, as opposed to waiting for it to be mediated, whether that be through the headlines that we manage to grab or otherwise. "Honestly, the experience of sitting in our chamber of Parliament, particularly under the tenor of toxicity that this government is ushered in, is so far removed from the reality that you experience and you talk to with New Zealanders up and down this country when you're actually on the ground and outside of those walls." The building blocks at the foundation of what will be the Green policy platform for the 2026 election are contained within that alternative budget. It is a beguiling document, opening with pledges of free community healthcare and dental treatment, full funding a new Dunedin hospital, publicly funded early childhood education, free school lunches, a guaranteed income for all, climate action, healthy oceans, a resurgent Jobs for Nature scheme, and a green jobs industrial strategy. But then comes the method of paying for it all — essentially making corporations, and those individuals at the apex of the existing progressive tax system, pay more through introducing a wealth tax (a long-standing Greens policy), an extra tax band at the top end, and hiking business tax. Despite Ms Swarbrick's immediate assertion that 91% of New Zealanders would pay less income tax under her party's plan, it is these revenue-gathering methods that stand her party accused of promoting communism. "Yes, the top 3%, the wealthiest 3% in this country, will pay the wealth tax," she said. "But in doing so, that unlocks the resources which are currently being bound up in unproductive uses, i.e., the likes of property speculation. It also addresses some of the unfairness in our tax system, which the 2023 IRD High Wealth Individuals Report showcased, where the wealthiest 311 households pay an effective tax rate less than half of the average New Zealander. "We currently have a situation where half a million New Zealanders are using food banks every single month; 191 New Zealanders, the majority of them of working age, are leaving the country every single day. "We do not arrest that issue with half measures." The next election is about a year away and, unlike some previous electoral cycles, the Greens have cause to be optimistic. The Greens' polling has held relatively steady — from a record election result high of 11.6%, its current average rating across all public polls is 10.4% — and its caucus now has a more settled look about it. Its southern rookie MPs, Scott Willis and Francisco Hernandez, have performed well and are helping to give the Greens a wider geographic representation than in recent years. It is also doing well in the House, thanks in no small part to the work of the impressively forensic Lawrence Xu-Nan. With three electorate seats and 15 MPs, Ms Swarbrick is adamant the Greens have great potential to grow that vote still further. "I think you're seeing the rise of meaningful progressive platforms like, for example, Zohran Mamdani in New York, who has unified people on the basis of material needs being met," she said. "That stuff is winning. That is a winning formula. And that is the formula that we are going to consistently keep rolling out. "We are talking to people about what really matters, not just poking holes and critiquing, but putting forward those productive solutions, but also mobilising people. "We do things a little bit differently and we are a little bit different, and we try and reflect what modern Aotearoa New Zealand looks like. "Hopefully that means that more people can see themselves in that so-called House of Representatives by virtue of us being there."
Otago Daily Times
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Opinion: plan for the future set out in roadshow
We humans are social animals. It's our collective choices, and how we work together, that shapes our society. Most people realise that no-one individual can build a hospital, a university, or a national rail service alone. Collectively however, through public investment and shared purpose, we can maintain and enhance the services that provide for our wellbeing. Building our shared future with wellbeing for all means investment in jobs, infrastructure and climate action. Unfortunately, 40 years of bad fiscal programming have produced devastating real-world results, as our hospitals, schools and infrastructure fall apart. But it doesn't have to be this way. And now, it's time for a reset. That's exactly what the Greens will be bringing to Ōtepoti Dunedin on July 25; a vision for an economy for the people, by the people. We'll be sharing our proposals for the South, discussing the opportunities for our southern healthcare and much more. In our travels around the motu so far, we've encountered real anger at this government's disdain for local voices, disdain for community wellbeing and its intention to destroy so much that makes our place special. At the same time, we've encountered real optimism that this is little more than a temporary toxic interlude and encountered great enthusiasm for the Green vision that we've presented in our emissions reduction plan, our green industrial strategy, our green budget and the green fiscal strategy to deliver for people and planet. We've prepared detailed plans for the task ahead to restore trust in government, to raise up local and regional government, ensuring a more equitable society that we will deliver in the next government. These plans involve a publicly funded Southern Hospital (including the new inpatient building, a stand-alone, publicly provided pathology unit and an inter-professional learning centre), restoration of regional passenger rail, beginning with the Southerner between Ōtepoti Dunedin and Ōtautahi Christchurch, and; restoring delivery capability for Kāinga Ora to deliver new housing at scale, addressing the growing affordability and homelessness challenges in our community. The Green Budget Roadshow with Greens co-leader Chloe Swarbrick will arrive in Ōtepoti Dunedin on July 25 and will begin with a public meeting at Errick's, from 5.30pm-6.30pm. If you want to be part of creating a better future together, we'd love to see you. Let's focus on the change we need for people and planet.
RNZ News
25-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Greens claim $700m 'uncosted hole' in Budget
Greens co-leader Chloe Swarbrick says the Budget contains an uncosted hole of anywhere from $633m to $714m over the forecast period. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone The government could face an unbudgeted hole of hundreds of millions of dollars in increased KiwiSaver contributions for public sector workers, the Green Party says. As part of the Budget last week, the government announced that the default KiwiSaver contribution for employees and employers would lift to 4 percent, in stages. But the Green Party said the government had not accounted for that increase for its own employees in its books, and over the Budget forecast period it could add up to $714 million in costs. Co-leader Chloe Swarbrick said last time the government increased the compulsory employer contribution, it set up a fund to help cover its costs. The increased cost to government as an employer was highlighted in the Budget Economic and Fiscal Update and in the KiwiSaver reforms regulatory impact statement. "What we've found is what we believe to be a hole in the government Budget, an uncosted hole of anywhere from $633m to $714m over the forecast period," Swarbrick said. "The Crown is obviously an employer of thousands and thousands of people with billions and billions of dollars in wage bills. If we're to project from the base line of around 72 percent of the population... at the default rate which is increasing, the Crown will have an increased liability to meet those employer contributions." She said the government either did not spend enough time working it out, or was "intentionally hiding or obscuring what I'm sure the minister will say are going to have to be new cuts that agencies and ministries will be forcing departments to make to account for the increased contributions". Finance Minister Nicola Willis's office said the potential cost had been noted. "Crown agencies as employers will assess the potential implications for agency budgets. If any additional funding is required, it would count against the Budget 2026 operating allowance." But Swarbrick said it was not being sufficiently upfront. She said it seemed the government did not want to be seen to be being "mean" by just halving the member tax credit, to $260 a year, and so had to increase contributions at the same time. It should have happened as part of more consultation and a full review of retirement settings, she said. "This will be an additional cost as soon as the changes come into effect." Employers who offer total remuneration packages to employees will dodge some of the increase but Swarbrick said it was clear that the government would not be able to shift people on to that arrangement to avoid the increase in a way that reduced their take-home pay. Craig Renney, policy director at the NZ Council of Trade Unions, said it was an issue for the government as an employer. "It would be good to know what calculations they have made themselves as to their additional remuneration costs. Is the Crown going to force workers to eat the increase themselves? It would set a very bad example for the rest of the market." He said good employers should see the increase as an opportunity to improve employees' retirement outcomes. "The risk is that for some employers they might view the 'total remuneration' of their employees as a single package. That would mean they would expect any increase in KiwiSaver to come from the same money. That would mean lower real pay increases for employees and less cash in hand. "Given that we have very weak demand in the economy, there are probably limited opportunities for employees to get a different job - especially with unemployment forecast to keep rising. Ultimately, that would mean that the government has set up a system where employees end up paying for increased employers contributions to their own KiwiSaver. "There are some industries where there might be a simple pass-on to the consumer for these costs, but again, in a subdued market these are probably fewer than you might expect. These are probably also higher income earners, so the likelihood is that lower income earners will be more likely to face that 'total remuneration' issue. That will simply compound existing income adequacy problems in New Zealand." Employees will be able to opt to return their contribution to 3 percent, matched by an employer's 3 percent. Renney said there was a risk some people could face pressure to do so. "Again, it is likely to low paid/lower market power employee who face this challenge. Secondly, if we make it easier to become a contractor - where this is not an issue - this move will encourage employers to pretend that their employees are contractors. The current proposed changes by government in that regard might drive more of that behaviour, putting workers at a significant disadvantage." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday
Otago Daily Times
14-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Greens want to get passenger rail back on track
The Green Party wants to supercharge passenger rail in the South — including reviving the Southerner. The party released its shadow budget yesterday ahead of the government's official Budget announcements. The shadow budget has a strong focus on the environment and curbing emissions, and key to this platform is the restoration of passenger rail across the country. The document notes that "Aotearoa was once linked up by passenger rail — from Christchurch to Dunedin, and to a myriad of small towns in between". "On any given day there were at least two passenger rail services to Christchurch from Dunedin. "Our plan to deliver a passenger rail service between Christchurch and Dunedin assumes leased rail cars from KiwiRail, while a stage one proof of concept is under way and establishment and refurbishment of stations at Rolleston, Timaru, Oamaru and Ashburton." Under the proposal, one train would run each way per day. "Once the passenger service has been proven, we would electrify and upgrade the main line from Christchurch to Ashburton to 110kmh, and purchase tilt trains to run the service and speed up travel times." The Southerner, running between Christchurch and Invercargill via Dunedin, ran successfully from 1970. In 1993, the rail system was sold privately, before being sold back to the government in a significantly degraded condition, and closed in 2002. Green Party co-leader Chloe Swarbrick said New Zealand once had regular, affordable train services connecting the country's centres and regions. "We've done it before, and we can do it again. "A passenger rail link would be great for students studying in Otago and Canterbury, and once the new Dunedin hospital is up and running, there will need to be a comfortable, accessible mode of transport for patients and whānau travelling there from around the region." Rail & Maritime Transport Union general secretary Todd Valster said reviving regional rail had a lot of merit, economically and environmentally. "There are a lot of people, young people nowadays in particular, that don't necessarily own cars and would like public transport options." The Green Party's shadow budget costs the project's operating expenditure at $16.89 million over its first four years, generating revenue of about $14.19m. Upgrading the stations would cost about $20m, buying the new trains about $90m and upgrading the lines about $300m over four years.
Otago Daily Times
14-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Party wants to get passenger rail back on track
The Green Party wants to supercharge passenger rail in the South — including reviving the Southerner. The party released its shadow budget yesterday ahead of the government's official Budget announcements. The shadow budget has a strong focus on the environment and curbing emissions, and key to this platform is the restoration of passenger rail across the country. The document notes that "Aotearoa was once linked up by passenger rail — from Christchurch to Dunedin, and to a myriad of small towns in between". "On any given day there were at least two passenger rail services to Christchurch from Dunedin. "Our plan to deliver a passenger rail service between Christchurch and Dunedin assumes leased rail cars from KiwiRail, while a stage one proof of concept is under way and establishment and refurbishment of stations at Rolleston, Timaru, Oamaru and Ashburton." Under the proposal, one train would run each way per day. "Once the passenger service has been proven, we would electrify and upgrade the main line from Christchurch to Ashburton to 110kmh, and purchase tilt trains to run the service and speed up travel times." The Southerner, running between Christchurch and Invercargill via Dunedin, ran successfully from 1970. In 1993, the rail system was sold privately, before being sold back to the government in a significantly degraded condition, and closed in 2002. Green Party co-leader Chloe Swarbrick said New Zealand once had regular, affordable train services connecting the country's centres and regions. "We've done it before, and we can do it again. "A passenger rail link would be great for students studying in Otago and Canterbury, and once the new Dunedin hospital is up and running, there will need to be a comfortable, accessible mode of transport for patients and whānau travelling there from around the region." Rail & Maritime Transport Union general secretary Todd Valster said reviving regional rail had a lot of merit, economically and environmentally. "There are a lot of people, young people nowadays in particular, that don't necessarily own cars and would like public transport options." The Green Party's shadow budget costs the project's operating expenditure at $16.89 million over its first four years, generating revenue of about $14.19m. Upgrading the stations would cost about $20m, buying the new trains about $90m and upgrading the lines about $300m over four years.
