Broken promises  o National's 1990 manifesto promised to abolish Labour's surtax. Fact: The surtax is still in place.  o National's Education Minister signed pledges saying he would resign if National did not scrap Labour's $1250 tertiary fee. Fact: He broke his promise to abolish fees. He did not resign.  o Labour, 1989: "It is inconceivable that we would privatise Telecom." Fact: One year later Labour sold Telecom.  o Labour, 1984: "Labour is fully committed to the National Super scheme. It will not be weakened in any way."  Fact: Labour brought in the surtax, and raised the age of entitlement from 60 to 65.  o Labour's 1984 manifesto committed it not to introduce prescription charges. Fact: Labour did introduce prescription charges.  Leadership you can trust  Alliance Leader Jim Anderton MP with Alliance Co-Deputy Leaders Jeanette Fitzsimons and Sandra Lee Mp  Alliance Pledge  "When elected, I undertake during this Parliamentary term to work to implement the policies contained in the Alliance Election Manifesto and to remain part of the Alliance.  Should I vote against, or obstruct the implementation of these policies, or leave the Alliance, I undertake to resign from Parliament and seek a new mandate from the electorate.  I make this pledge so that electors can have full confidence that the Alliance policies they vote for will be those that will be implemented by an Alliance Government."  All Alliance candidates have signed this pledge  Alliance in Parliament  After election day it is unlikely any party on its own will get over half the seats in Parliament. Therefore at least two parties will have to cooperate to pass legislation.  o The Alliance's primary aim is to lead a government based on Alliance policies.  o If we don't win enough votes to govern, we are prepared to be part of a government in coalition with other parties. However potential coalition partners and agreed policies will have to be announced to the public before the election. The people should know what they are voting for.  o The Alliance has insisted that any policy agreement be announced to voters before the election. So far, that has not happened.  o The Alliance will not support a National Party Government.  o At all times Alliance MPs will not trade away our policies. Whether part of government or not the Alliance will use its representation in Parliament to get as many of our policies implemented as possible.  o We will negotiate with other parties on an issue-by-issue basis to have our manifesto policies adopted by the new MMP Parliament.  o The stronger the Alliance representation in Parliament, the more influence over policy and legislation the Alliance will have.  No Sell Out .  The Alliance has fought hard to save the forests. We're gathering signatures now for our petition. If the referendum is successful we will buy the forests back for the price paid. We gave all prospective buyers advance notice of this.  No mandate  The National government had no mandate to sell our State Forest assets. They forced the sale through despite huge public opposition.  It's about jobs  Apart from paying tax-payers over $1 billion in the last five years, these forest assets in public ownership provide jobs and economic sovereignty for New Zealand.  It's about trust  The Alliance will not sell strategic assets, and we will not sell out on our policies or commitments.  Phone 0800 1010 96 to get your petition form.  With Kiwicare, families won't have to buy insurance. Kiwicare meets normal health needs. For a family of two adults and two children:  o You will save $10.60 per week on a budget health insurance policy which covers hospital visits only.  o You will save $5.23 per week on doctor visits and prescriptions (The Ministry of Health estimates each family visits the doctor 16 times each year on average).  o You wont face the prospect of your assets and income being taken if you need long stay care in your old age.  o You wont face lengthy waiting lists for surgery in public hospitals.  Staying well and having a say  People's health is better in good housing and when they have a good job. Kiwicare will put resources into health education and preventing sickness. Elected Health Councils will give you a say in how the money is spent.  Kiwicare Health  The Alliance plan  Cutting bureaucracy  Under Kiwicare, there is no need for expensive, profit-oriented CHEs and RHAs. They'll be scrapped, along with their politically appointed boards. You will be able to vote for health councils in your area which set priorities for Kiwicare funding. Health professionals will run Kiwicare from day to day  Paying for Kiwicare  The entire cost of Kiwicare is met through the tax system. There are no user charges for any Kiwicare service. Kiwicare is affordable. The extra cost of Kiwicare is less than the cost of National's 1996 tax cuts. Isn't the public health system more important than tax cuts?  Mental Health  The state of our mental health services was slammed by the Mason report. But National refused to follow its recommendations. The Alliance will put in place everything Judge Mason said was badly needed. The mentally sick must get the same quality care as the physically sick.  Kiwicare health services  Kiwicare is the Alliance plan to ensure all New Zealanders have access to health care when it is needed. Kiwicare is funded from taxes and run by elected representatives of the community. Kiwicare cuts bureaucracy and puts health dollars where they are needed.  Kiwicare pays for:  medical prescriptions  visits to the doctor  prompt hospital treatment  mental health care  laboratory tests  maternity care  fully funded Plunket services  school health and dental services  comprehensive rural health facilities  geriatric care in public or private  facilities, and rest homes o immunisations for preventable diseases  All New Zealanders are eligible for Kiwicare. There is no need for special membership or a Community Services Card,  Phillida Bunkle Health spokesperson.  "Kiwicare will fund hospitals to shorten waiting lists. Operating theatres will reopen. Rural hospitals will stay open."  Health care when it is needed  Under National, more than 100,000 people are on surgical waiting lists at public hospitals. Half of them will wait more than a year for their operation. A quarter will wait more than two years.  Hospital waiting lists up  Let's say two children go to university or poly-tech for three years. They each pay a fee of $2500 per year under National's user pays for education policy. While they study, their parents contribute $120 per week for food and accommodation. This would cost $33,720 over the whole three years. A family would have to put away $51.92 each week for ten years in order to save $33,720. (This assumes a real after-tax rate of interest of 5%). The Alliance will scrap fees and pay students a proper allowance. saving a family like this money and worry.  Average student fees up  Free Education  Laying the foundations  Teacher-pupil ratios in kindergartens are getting worse. Kindies are pressured to charge higher fees. Funding for teachers and maintenance has fallen.  The Alliance has budgetted to boost funding for early childhood education by 18%. More teachers will be recruited and they'll be trained and paid better.  Scrap fees and the loan scheme  Students owe $1.6 billion in loans. Half of all students will still be paying off their loans when they are 40. One in five women will still owe money on their student debts when they retire.  The prospect of a life-time of debt is mining opportunities for our young people. First-year student enrolments have fallen for three years in a row.  The Alliance will scrap tertiary fees and axe the student loan scheme. And we'll value learning above unemployment by paying students an allowance equal to unemployment benefit - without means testing their parents.  Fully funded schools  The Alliance believes the whole community must fund the education of the young. This is part of society's contribution to the coming generation. And today's young people, when they reach working age, will do the same for the next generation. The Alliance will;  o scrap school fees by property funding schools.  o reduce class sizes and pay teachers properly without bulk funding.  Dr Liz Gordon Education spokesperson.  "There will be more teachers, better classrooms and no student fees."  Family education costs dramatically up  In 1989 Labour said university and polytech students must pay fees. Since then pre-school education and primary and secondary schooling have become major costs to families. Many schools are so short of cash they cannot meet the basic learning needs of kids. The result is that those who cannot pay do not get their (earn-ing needs met.  Student debt skyrockets  Economics for People  John Wright Regional Development,  The National Government is squeezing small businesses with high interest rates. The Alliance will:  o manage the economy to achieve lower interest rates and a lower dollar.  o get rid of GST compliance costs by bringing in a Financial Transactions Tax.  o scrap provisional tax for businesses with residual tax of less than $10,000.  'The  Alliance is committed to full employment."  Leah McBey. Employment  Employment is an Alliance priority. There is so much work to do. The Alliance will ensure people are employed to:  o fix badly run-down schools, hospitals, and houses.  o control possums and other pests.  o prevent soil erosion and protect waterways.  o care for frail elderly people in their homes.  Keeping our assets  An Alliance government will keep New Zealand's strategic resources - our land, fisheries, minerals and energy supplies - in New Zealand hands. No more asset sales!  Fair Trade, not Free Trade  The Alliance does not support unrestricted free trade. There must be safeguards to stop transnational companies shifting their factories to places where wages are lowest and environmental regulations don't exist. A tariff will be used to protect employment and the balance of payments.  Sustainable Development  The Alliance will only support development which can be sustained into the future without damaging our water, land and air. An Alliance government will consult with the public to draw up a strategic plan for this development. Finance will be available for new enterprises and industries which cut pollution and use natural resources carefully. This will come from an Economic Development Fund.  Change Reserve Bank Act  The Bank's current emphasis on very low inflation destroys exports and jobs, and raises mortgage rates. The goals of the Reserve Bank will be widened to include employment and sustainable well-being.  Development Plan  The Alliance Green 2000 plan includes:  strict rules for overseas investment scientific research into sustainable technologies energy efficiency, wind, solar, biomass legal help for citizen's environmental groups phase out the worst poisons tougher rules to control other poisons clean-up of contaminated sites  Measuring more than GDP  There's more to life than GDP - Gross Domestic Product. The Alliance will ensure that NZ's National Accounts also measure social development (such as life expectancy and income spread), unpaid work and the health of natural resources.  Jeanette Fitzsimons. Sustainable Economy.  "Environmental quality and social justice go together. The Earth can provide for everyone's need but not every-one's greed."  Rebuilding Local Services.  Water, sewage and public transport services are being underfunded and run down, ready for private sale. The Alliance will keep these assets and rebuild them. We will invest in public transport. We will act to reduce rubbish that has to be dumped. We will provide interestfree loans for improved sewerage treatment and water supply. We support strong community boards.  Sandra Lee  "GST will be scrapped and replaced with a much fairer tax."  GST scrapped  The Alliance will scrap GST and phase in a Financial Transaction Tax of 10 cents on every $100 withdrawal much less than the GST rate of $12.50 on a $112.50 purchase.  GST is only levied on purchases of goods and services. But Financial Transaction Tax will be levied on all transactions (including shares, currency, financial securities, land and buildings). The high GST compliance costs for small businesses will go. The Financial Transaction Tax will mean ordinary people pay much less of the tax burden. Instead, big business and speculators will pay their share.  Fairer taxes for everybody  Rich / Poor gap grows  Half of all income in New Zealand is received by the top 20% of income earners. The 16% wealthiest New Zealanders own 75% of the country's wealth. Over the last ten years, taxes on high incomes and companies have been drastically cut, so that the funding base for health, education and retirement income has been undermined.  Alliance fair tax plan  The Alliance will shift the tax base so those on low incomes pay less tax, the wealthy pay more tax and big corporates pay their share:  o Income tax. Those earning less than $28,500/year will pay less tax. Others will pay more tax.  o Company tax will increase to 40% bringing them into line with Australian tax rates.  o Estate duties will be payable on estates with a net value above $500.000.  o Financial Transaction Tax will replace GST  ALLIANCE TAX TABLE  Annual Income  $5000 $10000 $15000 $20000 $25000 $30000 $40000 $50000 $100000  Weekly Income  $96.15 $192.31 $288.46 $384.62 $480.77 $576.92 $769.23 $961.54 $1923.08  Present tax system  $15.10  $31.06  $54.81  $78.56 $102.31 $126.06 $183.60 $248.40 $572.44  Alliance tax  $1.15 $16.83 $43.76 $70.69 $98.94 $132.58 $208.54 $294.14 $765.39  70% of New Zealanders will pay less income tax with AHian  ALLIANCE  And investment in communities  How much will it cost?  The Alliance is the only opposition party to cost its entire policy program in detail and publish a 1996 Alternative Budget. There is no point making promises that cannot be paid for.  Cost of extra Alliance service commitments in the 1997/98 year:  Health Services $716 million Education Services $413 million Environment $135 million Housing $193 million Income Support $1360 million Senior Citizens $245 million Other Services $685 million  Cost of extra Alliance infrastructure investment in the 1997/98 year:  New Housing $180 million Economic Development Fund $170 million Other investment $625 million  Alliance  *  actual tax %  Difference  1%  $13.95  less tax  9%  $14.23  less tax  »  15%  $11.05  less tax  18%  $7.87  less tax  21%  $3.37  less tax  23%  +$6.52  more tax  27%  +$24.94  more tax  30%  +$45.74  more tax  40%  +$192.95  more tax  and everybody will get free health and education.  Jim Anderton  "Better health and education services have to be paid for through taxes. We are being upfront. You can't rely on fair weather surpluses to fund core social services."  Uncosted promises  Labour and NZ First are making election promises which they say will be funded out of the 'surplus'.  If this has an empty ring to you, the Alliance agrees. The amount of surplus which is available for spending is actually quite small.  Responsible governments must also anticipate the effect on inflation and the balance of payments. In fact, most of the available money has already been spent by National on tax cuts.  Sandra Lee  «  The Alliance will not  allow our high country land to be sold"  Local Government  Councils, Community Boards and local services are threatened with abolition and privatisation. The Alliance will:  o strengthen Community Boards.  o ensure services remain under public control and are managed sustainably  Maori and the Treaty of Waitangi  The Alliance will develop a constitution based on the Treaty. We wilt resource the Waitangi Tribunal to hear cases more promptly There will be additional financial support for Maori education, health services, economic development and Rohe Pooti (Maori Regional Councils).  Conservation  In this "green" country, 80% of original forest cover has been removed and 90% of wetland destroyed. 11 % of the world's endangered bird species live here. The Department of Conservation is underfunded. Its scientific data is not being maintained, skilled staff are leaving and facilities for visitors are crumbling. The Alliance will:  o increase funding for DOC to improve visitor facilities and to improve its work with ecologically important land, threatened species and habitats.  o provide special funding for pest and weed control.  o create new marine reserves, and turn the Hauraki Gulf into a marine park.  o not sell South Island high country land.  o improve the ability of local communities to contribute to planning processes.  o increase environmental education.  o close Conservation Parks & Reserves to mining and protect the Queen's Chain.  Accident Compensation  ACC is a mess. People are not getting real levels of compensation. The Alliance will:  o ensure ACC provides comprehensive cover.  o restore lump-sum compensation for non-economic loss, at the levels when the scheme began in 1974 (inflation adjusted).  improve sanctions against medical, occupational and transport negligence.  Superannuation  The Alliance has signed a Contract with Senior Citizens in recognition of the contribution made to society by older New Zealanders. The Alliance will:  o raise the rate of Super for couples to 72.5% of the average after tax wage.  o scrap income & asset testing. Long-stay rest home and hospital care of sick and frail elderly folk will be funded from taxation.  o scrap the superannuation surtax.  o pay a Senior Citizens Benefit equal to 95% of Super to people between 60 and 65, who do not qualify for the Transitional Retirement Benefit and who get no other income.  "We'll scrap the surtax and ensure that the elderly are not discriminated against."  Dr Keith Riding  Housing  A secure home is the cornerstone of the family Low incomes, market rentals and high real interest rates have made adequate housing unaffordable for many. The Alliance will:  o build 2000 new statehouses.  o scrap market rents for state houses.  o limit rents to 25% of net household income.  o make more emergency housing available.  Social Security  The Alliance will treat all New Zealanders with dignity, compassion and flexibility. The Alliance will:  o remove benefit stand-down periods.  o simplify the chaotic benefit structure and boost benefits to their pre-1991 level (adjusted for inflation).  o allow families to earn more without losing family support.  o boost the Children and Young Person's service and make children and young people a high priority for government.  Dave MacPherson  "Benefits will be increased. Stand-down periods will be scrapped so unemployed people get a fair go."  Laila Harre  "We will scrap the Employment Contracts Act, and give everybody a fair deal"  Workplace Relations  The Employment Contracts Act will be replaced with a new Workplace Relations Act. This will encourage collective bargaining. There will be a minimum national employment code that guarantees basic conditions including, minimum wages, sick leave, domestic leave and hours of work. The Alliance will:  o introduce four week's minimum annual leave.  o boost the minimum wage to $7.50/hour.  o introduce 12 weeks paid parental leave.  Tafa Mulitalo  "New Zealand should celebrate the diversity of all our cultures and people."  Pacific Island Affairs  The Alliance will promote economic and social justice for Pacific Islanders in New Zealand. Targetted initiatives for the community include:  o employment promotion including access to development funding for those starting businesses.  o respect for Pacific Island cultures and languages in the education system. More Pacific Island teachers.  o better community hearth services aimed at the Pacific Island community. More Pacific Island health professionals.  Broadcasting  "The Alliance will cut back advertising on TV and limit overseas ownership."  The Alliance will make broadcasting serve the interests of audiences - not overseas owned media conglomerates. The Alliance will:  o set up a nationwide youth radio network.  o cut advertising on TV1 during children's programmes.  o oppose the sale of all or part of TVNZ.  o limit overseas ownership of broadcast media.  Pam Corkery  Youth  Polytech, Training College and University courses will be free under an Alliance Government. All students wilt be entitled to a good living allowance. The Alliance will put in place a national training plan to increase work opportunities for young people. The Alliance will establish a youth radio network.  Energy  A comprehensive sustainable energy plan will cut waste, reduce fossil fuel use and develop solar, wind and biomass energy. This will help us play our part in international efforts to fight climate change and ensure energy resources exist for our children.  o ECNZ, Contact and TransPower will be kept in public ownership.  o Power companies will be forced to remove fixed line charges - the less you use. the less you pay.  Jeanette Fitzsimons  "We can harvest and develop our natural resources carefully. Our future depends on it"  Transport  The Alliance is committed to public transport systems, and efficient energy use. We will:  o provide an extra $50 million a year to improve public transport systems.  o encourage freight off the roads and on to rail.  o restore New Zealand control over coastal shipping.  Forestry  The Alliance will:  o increase NZ processing and added value.  o promote a mixture of species, including natives, in plantation forests.  o encourage integration of farming and forestry where appropriate.  o protect native forests from logging except where small scale harvesting can be shown to be ecologically sustainable.  Agriculture  The NZ dollar will be managed to a lower level to help exporters. Land sales will be restricted to NZ citizens, permanent residents and companies with a minimum of 50% NZ ownership.  Producer Boards which are efficient and accountable to their producers will retain their single desk seller status. Research, advisory services and transitional help will support organic growing.  Rural health and education services will be restored.  Immigration  Matt Robson  Immigration must be planned. Personal wealth will not be used as a condition for entry into NZ. Alliance policy ensures immigration planning will:  "We need laws that are just, and we need tolerance, to build caring, safe communities."  o monitor population inflows and outflows  o monitor population growth  o check needs in each of the categories of skill  o honour family and world humanitarian commitments  o ensure NZ's social services can absorb new settlers  Justice  The Alliance will make access to the legal system easier. We'll introduce restorative justice to cut re-offending. Victims will get a greater say and compensation will be available. We'll target violence with a major programme to create safe, secure communities.  International Affairs  The Alliance will put priority on our relationships with South Pacific countries.  o We oppose nuclear testing, and nuclear waste dumping.  o We will support independence movements and peoples striving for democracy and human rights.  Keith Locke  Security depends on defending our global environment, and international cooperation."  o Within the South Pacific Forum we will advance regional trade, transport and fisheries protection.  o We will campaign internationally against global warming, ozone depletion, deforestation and the killing of endangered species.  Defence  The Alliance will scrap the expensive frigate project. The frigates will be sold to buy coastal and fisheries protection patrol ships. Our Navy and Airforce will be combined to look after our coastline and fisheries. The Army's main overseas duties will be specialist UN peacekeeping work.  Telecommunications  Telecom is exploiting a dominant market position. Its line charges are too high and it is blocking fair and open competition. The Alliance will:  o force Telecom to reduce its residential line charges by 30%.  o open the market to genuine competition.  Fisheries  The Quota Management System will be reformed to cut out waste and to reduce the Cost Recovery Levies paid by small fishing operators. Non-Commercial Fishing Reserves, managed locally, will protect recreational and customary fishing. Likelyy areas for these reserves include:  Manukau & Tauranga Harbours, The Inner Hauraki Gulf, The Marlborough Sounds.  'Telecom's international owners have pushed up phone charges. Strategic assets will not be sold"  Children  The Alliance will give priority to children by ensuring that each child will fulfill their potential. Child caregivers will be supported. The Alliance will:  o expand parent and childhood education.  o fund school health clinics.  o ensure suspension from school is used as a last resort only.  JanDavey  "Children are our future. They are precious."  Women  The Alliance will improve the status of women through equal opportunities in education, employment and equal political representation in Parliament. The Alliance wilt:  o introduce pay equity and equal employment law.  o expand physical and psychiatric health services for women.  o fund a major programme to minimise abusive and violent relationships and the damage they do to children, young people and women.  People with a disability  All schools will be resourced to ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to educational opportunities.  Plans ensuring access to public buildings, places of work, and public transport wilt be required.  AUTHORISED BY MATT MCCARTEN ALLIANCE NATIONAL DIRECTOR 147 CTEAT NORTH ROW NEWTON NJCKLAND