Labour Leader Chris Hipkins is standing by the decision to wait until after the Budget to announce the party's election policies.  

The party has come under fire from the Coalition for its lack of policies so far.  

Labour's has revealed plans for a Capital Gains Tax, a Future Fund, and a plan to boost the video game sector rebate from 20% to 25%.  

It's promised three free doctors visits a year, a change to GP funding, as well as a Family Doctor Loan Scheme.  

Hipkins told Kerre Woodham he doesn't want to make promises that can't be kept, and waiting till the Government sets out the finances is the responsible thing to do. 

He’s also signalled he’s open to discussions around potentially means-testing Superannuation.  

The party is calling for the Super age to remain at 65, but at the same time, government briefings suggest keeping it the same would result in more spending.  

Hipkins told Woodham he doesn't back full means-testing, but there are questions about whether someone working full-time on a six-figure salary should get the pension. 

He says a conversation would have to be held in a constructive, bipartisan way. 

LISTEN ABOVE  

Labour Leader Chris Hipkins is standing by the decision to wait until after the Budget to announce the party's election policies. &nbsp;
The party has come under fire from the Coalition for its lack of policies so far. &nbsp;
Labour's has revealed plans for a Capital Gains Tax, a Future Fund, and a plan to boost the video game sector rebate from 20% to 25%. &nbsp;
It's promised three free doctors visits a year, a change to GP funding, as well as a Family Doctor Loan Scheme. &nbsp;
Hipkins told Kerre Woodham he doesn't want to make promises that can't be kept, and waiting till the Government sets out the finances is the responsible thing to do.&nbsp;
He’s also signalled he’s open to discussions around potentially means-testing Superannuation. &nbsp;
The party is calling for the Super age to remain at 65, but at the same time, government briefings suggest keeping it the same would result in more spending. &nbsp;
Hipkins told Woodham he doesn't back full means-testing, but there are questions about whether someone working full-time on a six-figure salary should get the pension.&nbsp;
He says a conversation would have to be held in a constructive, bipartisan way.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Join Kerre Woodham one of New Zealand’s best loved personalities as she dishes up a bold, sharp and energetic show Monday to Friday 9am-12md on Newstalk ZB. News, opinion, analysis, lifestyle and entertainment – we’ve got your morning listening covered.

Kerre Woodham Mornings Podcast

Chris Hipkins: Labour Leader discusses election policy, Superannuation, India FTA

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/71e1c88f-c1ce-49b6-903e-b43c00032167/transcript

You know it's an election year, don't you? You know it's an election year when Winston's fermenting merry mischief, when the leader of the opposition is happy to put himself up for an hour of questions on talkback, and when lobby groups are releasing their election wish lists. 

The Cancer Society has released its election manifesto and is calling on the next Government, however it looks, to spend dollars to save them. For example, if you invest $5.5 million a year to deliver a national skin cancer prevention and early detection programme, more than 90% of cases will be prevented – nearly all cases are treatable when detected early. Every dollar invested, according to the Cancer Society, returns $11.90 in savings.  

And when you think of friends and family who have been through cancer treatment, you can understand how that would stack up. If you don't have to go through the torturous and expensive and generally lifesaving treatments, you are saving so much. So much of your own energy, so much time, so much money as a result of not getting cancer in the first place or early detection. As Cancer Society Chief Executive Nicola Coom told Mike Hosking this morning, given that cancer's New Zealand's biggest killer, it makes sense to invest in early detection and treatments. 

“One in three of us in New Zealand will receive a cancer diagnosis in our lifetime, but what's startling is one in three can also be prevented. So 81 people today around New Zealand are going to hear that they've got cancer. What this manifesto is about is we want those people to either A, not have that news in the first place, or B, be told it's okay, we've detected it early, your prognosis is good.” 

So the Cancer Society also wants to see cervical screening fully funded at a cost of $21 million per year and deliver on the 90% HPV immunisation target by 2030. You get that immunisation rate up and that eliminates cervical cancer. Invest the $5.5 million a year to deliver the skin cancer prevention and early detection programme, fund a lung cancer screening programme and begin rolling it out over the next three years, lower the bowel screening starting age to 50 and protect children and families from the commercial drivers of cancer. It all makes sense. If you can spend a dollar to save 11, why would you not? And you can say well the money's not there, but it is. It is there within the health budget. Imagine. Imagine if you didn't have to go through that whole gruelling process of trying to treat a cancer which could have been detected early, which could have been prevented in the first place when you look at the HPV immunisation. 

Cancer does not have to be a death sentence anymore. Breast cancer used to be, once you got the news about that, it was basically “set your affairs in order”. But as a result of new treatments, as a result of detection programmes, you no longer see it as a death sentence. 86% of people who are diagnosed with breast cancer survive 10 years or longer now. With skin cancers, if they're detected early, bowel cancer if you have the screening programme and can pick up the polyps that can turn into something life threatening, there is no reason for us to go through the agony of seeing somebody sicken and die. 

There will still be some that are just the anomalies of cancer cells being in your body and it's just your DNA and your bad luck and hopefully next life round you have a better run of it. But for many people it's detectable and if you have the early screening, you find it, the treatments are less severe, less harsh, less gruelling, less expensive. No brainer. I'd absolutely back the Cancer Society's election manifesto on that and I'll ask Chris Hipkins about that, but I'd love to hear from those of you who know exactly what this is all about, who've been there, who've done that, who've either had early detection or because of gaps in the system did not have the early detection and had a poorer outcome, tell me your story. 

You know it's an election year, don't you? You know it's an election year when Winston's fermenting merry mischief, when the leader of the opposition is happy to put himself up for an hour of questions on talkback, and when lobby groups are releasing their election wish lists.&nbsp;
The Cancer Society has released its election manifesto and is calling on the next Government, however it looks, to spend dollars to save them. For example, if you invest $5.5 million a year to deliver a national skin cancer prevention and early detection programme, more than 90% of cases will be prevented – nearly all cases are treatable when detected early. Every dollar invested, according to the Cancer Society, returns $11.90 in savings. &nbsp;
And when you think of friends and family who have been through cancer treatment, you can understand how that would stack up. If you don't have to go through the torturous and expensive and generally lifesaving treatments, you are saving so much. So much of your own energy, so much time, so much money as a result of not getting cancer in the first place or early detection. As Cancer Society Chief Executive Nicola Coom told Mike Hosking this morning, given that cancer's New Zealand's biggest killer, it makes sense to invest in early detection and treatments.&nbsp;
“One in three of us in New Zealand will receive a cancer diagnosis in our lifetime, but what's startling is one in three can also be prevented. So 81 people today around New Zealand are going to hear that they've got cancer. What this manifesto is about is we want those people to either A, not have that news in the first place, or B, be told it's okay, we've detected it early, your prognosis is good.”&nbsp;
So the Cancer Society also wants to see cervical screening fully funded at a cost of $21 million per year and deliver on the 90% HPV immunisation target by 2030. You get that immunisation rate up and that eliminates cervical cancer. Invest the $5.5 million a year to deliver the skin cancer prevention and early detection programme, fund a lung cancer screening programme and begin rolling it out over the next three years, lower the bowel screening starting age to 50 and protect children and families from the commercial drivers of cancer. It all makes sense. If you can spend a dollar to save 11, why would you not? And you can say well the money's not there, but it is. It is there within the health budget. Imagine. Imagine if you didn't have to go through that whole gruelling process of trying to treat a cancer which could have been detected early, which could have been prevented in the first place when you look at the HPV immunisation.&nbsp;
Cancer does not have to be a death sentence anymore. Breast cancer used to be, once you got the news about that, it was basically “set your affairs in order”. But as a result of new treatments, as a result of detection programmes, you no longer see it as a death sentence. 86% of people who are diagnosed with breast cancer survive 10 years or longer now. With skin cancers, if they're detected early, bowel cancer if you have the screening programme and can pick up the polyps that can turn into something life threatening, there is no reason for us to go through the agony of seeing somebody sicken and die.&nbsp;
There will still be some that are just the anomalies of cancer cells being in your body and it's just your DNA and your bad luck and hopefully next life round you have a better run of it. But for many people it's detectable and if you have the early screening, you find it, the treatments are less severe, less harsh, less gruelling, less expensive. No brainer. I'd absolutely back the Cancer Society's election manifesto on that and I'll ask Chris Hipkins about that, but I'd love to hear from those of you who know exactly what this is all about, who've been there, who've done that, who've either had early detection or because of gaps in the system did not have the early detection and had a poorer outcome, tell me your story.&nbsp;

Kerre Woodham: Funding cancer prevention is a no-brainer

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/e5f4148a-7643-4f0b-9711-b43c00185828/transcript

Do you have to get your car serviced by the dealer to avoid voiding the warranty?  

While you don't necessarily have to, manufacturers require specific equipment and supplies to be used during the servicing process, and using alternatives can impact the warranty.

The independent mechanic also has to adhere to the servicing schedule and keep complete documentation. 

Motor Trade Association Dealer Expert Larry Fellowfield told Kerre Woodham that while dealerships often cost more than independent mechanics, it comes down to the specific training and equipment they’re required to have.  

LISTEN ABOVE  

Do you have to get your car serviced by the dealer to avoid voiding the warranty? &nbsp;
While you don't necessarily have to, manufacturers require specific equipment and supplies to be used during the servicing process, and using alternatives can impact the warranty.
The independent mechanic also has to adhere to the servicing schedule and keep complete documentation.&nbsp;
Motor Trade Association Dealer Expert Larry Fellowfield told Kerre Woodham that while dealerships often cost more than independent mechanics, it comes down to the specific training and equipment they’re required to have. &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Larry Fallowfield: Motor Trade Association Dealer Expert on whether you have to service your car at a dealer to maintain your warranty

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/faf7b016-cae8-430c-9ac7-b43b0018e91b/transcript

The topic of tax has been in the news recently and it will stay in the news. It’s set to become an election issue with one of the few policies that Labour's actually committed to being a Capital Gains Tax – possibly more taxation/revenue measures. Watch the politicians dance on the head of a pin in the lead up to the election. The Fitch report, which looks at New Zealand's ability to pay its bills, said that a Labour Party coalition with the Greens and Te Pāti Māori would emphasise revenue measures as a means of making ends meet. The authors of the report said the National Party-led coalition would focus on expenditure constraint. There's been all sorts of argy bargy and we can go into that a little bit later, but already, even when we start talking about tax and about Labour introducing a Capital Gains Tax and more tax, it's said like it's a bad thing. Like it's a dreadful thing to contemplate more tax. 

And yet, how else are we going to pay for the sort of country that we want, that we used to have, that we hear mythical stories about around the fireside from our forebears? Liam Dann has a column in the New Zealand Herald, Inside Economics, and in the column this morning, a correspondent writes that on a tax per capita basis, New Zealand is running materially behind Australia – roughly $13.6 billion annually. Now obviously, Aussies earn more, so their governments are going to take more tax. If you earn more, there's more to take on a percentage basis. But the correspondent writes that even closing a fraction of the tax would meaningfully shift the balance of our books into a positive light and it would change the way we talk about infrastructure and services. Even a tiny bit of that $13.6 billion would make a huge difference.  

The correspondent is a blogger and, in his blog, he also writes that one of the reasons why Aussies are prepared to pay more in tax is that they have accepted a basic truth: the country they want costs more to run. And I don't know that we are willing to accept that basic truth. We are still living like some crusty old goat on our former glory. Like the Bruce Springsteen song of 'Glory Days'. We used to be somebody. We used to have a great country. We used to have a country where Jack was as good as his master, where there were no huge extremes between wealth and poverty, where if you worked reasonably hard, if you lived a good life, if you obeyed the rules, you had a great life. You could be assured of a future; your children could be assured of a future. And we're still living on the glory days. 

Now obviously not everything that has happened in New Zealand is as a result of what New Zealand has done. We're a global economy now and the winds of change and fortune affect us without our politicians having to do anything at all. But over the years, successive governments have failed to invest in basic infrastructure, and the chickens are coming home to roost – Wellington's Moa Point is a metaphor for the entire country. Our politicians are to blame for a lack of political courage and a lack of political foresight, and we as voters are to blame because as soon as anybody mentions tax, we throw up our aprons and run for the hills. Never! I work hard for my money! I've paid my way, I pay more than enough, have a look at those bludging people on the dole, sort them out first! You can make all the excuses in the world, but are we willing to accept a basic truth that the country we want costs more to run than we're willing to pay. 

The topic of tax has been in the news recently and it will stay in the news. It’s set to become an election issue with one of the few policies that Labour's actually committed to being a Capital Gains Tax – possibly more taxation/revenue measures. Watch the politicians dance on the head of a pin in the lead up to the election. The Fitch report, which looks at New Zealand's ability to pay its bills, said that a Labour Party coalition with the Greens and Te Pāti Māori would emphasise revenue measures as a means of making ends meet. The authors of the report said the National Party-led coalition would focus on expenditure constraint. There's been all sorts of argy bargy and we can go into that a little bit later, but already, even when we start talking about tax and about Labour introducing a Capital Gains Tax and more tax, it's said like it's a bad thing. Like it's a dreadful thing to contemplate more tax.&nbsp;
And yet, how else are we going to pay for the sort of country that we want, that we used to have, that we hear mythical stories about around the fireside from our forebears? Liam Dann has a column in the New Zealand Herald, Inside Economics, and in the column this morning, a correspondent writes that on a tax per capita basis, New Zealand is running materially behind Australia – roughly $13.6 billion annually. Now obviously, Aussies earn more, so their governments are going to take more tax. If you earn more, there's more to take on a percentage basis. But the correspondent writes that even closing a fraction of the tax would meaningfully shift the balance of our books into a positive light and it would change the way we talk about infrastructure and services. Even a tiny bit of that $13.6 billion would make a huge difference. &nbsp;
The correspondent is a blogger and, in his blog, he also writes that one of the reasons why Aussies are prepared to pay more in tax is that they have accepted a basic truth: the country they want costs more to run. And I don't know that we are willing to accept that basic truth. We are still living like some crusty old goat on our former glory. Like the Bruce Springsteen song of 'Glory Days'. We used to be somebody. We used to have a great country. We used to have a country where Jack was as good as his master, where there were no huge extremes between wealth and poverty, where if you worked reasonably hard, if you lived a good life, if you obeyed the rules, you had a great life. You could be assured of a future; your children could be assured of a future. And we're still living on the glory days.&nbsp;
Now obviously not everything that has happened in New Zealand is as a result of what New Zealand has done. We're a global economy now and the winds of change and fortune affect us without our politicians having to do anything at all. But over the years, successive governments have failed to invest in basic infrastructure, and the chickens are coming home to roost – Wellington's Moa Point is a metaphor for the entire country. Our politicians are to blame for a lack of political courage and a lack of political foresight, and we as voters are to blame because as soon as anybody mentions tax, we throw up our aprons and run for the hills. Never! I work hard for my money! I've paid my way, I pay more than enough, have a look at those bludging people on the dole, sort them out first! You can make all the excuses in the world, but are we willing to accept a basic truth that the country we want costs more to run than we're willing to pay.&nbsp;

Kerre Woodham: The country we want costs more than we're willing to pay

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/bb080b01-df28-427e-a631-b43b0010e525/transcript

Chris Hipkins: Labour Leader discusses election policy, Superannuation, India FTA

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