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The National Party on Economy and Taxes
National has not included company tax cut plans in its economic and tax policy for the 2008 election, but has long championed them. In May 2007 leader John Key said, “Dropping the company tax rate from 33% to 30% has long been National's policy, although we would have done this after a programme of personal tax cuts”. It has announced during the 2008 campaign that it would cut the Research and Development tax credit, however.
National opposes a tax-free zone. It supports a 12.5 percent tax on those earning 0-$14,000 per year.
According to a policy statement, "National will wind up the Fast Forward Fund and: • Establish an international centre for research into greenhouse gas emissions from livestock, at the cost of $20 million a year. • Increase funding within Vote RS&T for primary sector and food research of $25 million a year. • Increase funding for research consortia in the primary and food sectors of $25 million a year."
National will scrap Labour's planned Fast Forward Fund for primary and food sector research to help pay for its own economic plans.
The National party would not change GST, but would reconsider the increases in fuel taxes which Labour was planning. "One of the big issues with GST on food for example, is while it's conceptually a nice idea it is difficult to implement," Mr Key said.
National has no policy to amend the Reserve Bank Act and supports its inflation target.
“Tolling is an option for major new roads,” according to Transport spokesman Maurice Williamson. The party has expressed interest in toll roads and charges of $2-3 per trip around Auckland, without offering a specific policy this year.