The Opportunities Party (TOP) has unveiled its economy policy, which has a long-term focus on infrastructure, investment, innovation and immigration.
TOP Leader Raf Manji describes these as the "four pillars of economic dynamism," which are linked together.
"We see our economy as a series of interconnected systems that need stable, long-term, bipartisan planning and funding support. Our economic policy calls for action across the board - in infrastructure, investment, innovation and immigration - because we can’t afford to silo these critical sectors, or worse, turn them into political footballs to kick around every three years,” says Manji.
Included among TOP's policies are; developing a 30 year National Infrastructure Plan in collaboration with local government; making KiwiSaver enrolment compulsory at birth; updating and introducing regulatory frameworks for gene editing, artificial intelligence and therapeutic products designed to support research, innovation and commercial outcomes; and with immigration, establishing a regional talent visa to let regions recruit directly on behalf of local companies and sectors and ease pressure on Auckland.
Manji says TOP’s economic plan includes the following key policies:
Infrastructure
● Develop a 30 year National Infrastructure Plan in collaboration with Local Government.
● Develop a Long-term Funding and Financing Model using Crown Infrastructure Partners and other fit-for-purpose commercial models.
● Introduce Long-Term Alliance Contracting Models to deliver long-term plans, workforce certainty and lower risk.
● Use Infrastructure Funding as a pro-cyclical tool by setting nominal GDP targets.
Investment
● Return Reserve Bank mandate to price stability only.
● Liberalise the overseas investment framework to attract productive foreign investment and support local innovators.
● Make KiwiSaver enrolment compulsory at birth (currently voluntary).
● Review role of KiwiSaver contributions for freelancers/contractors, and in supporting price stability.
Innovation
● Support Research & Development investment by increasing tax credits.
● Increase funding for post-doctoral research scholarships and seed-stage investment.
● Allow accelerated depreciation and digital grants for SMEs.
● Update and introduce appropriate regulatory frameworks for Gene Editing, Artificial Intelligence and Therapeutic Products to support research, innovation and commercial outcomes.
Immigration
● Review the Accredited Employer Visa Scheme ensuring checks and balances to stamp out migrant worker exploitation.
● Reduce the salary bands for Skilled Work visas, which many businesses, including our growing tech sector, say are too high.
● Establish a new Regional Talent Visa to let regions recruit directly on behalf of local companies and sectors, easing the pressure on Auckland and attracting much-needed talent elsewhere in the country.
● Introduce the Teal Visa to harness high net worth individuals who want to make productive investments and live in New Zealand. The Teal Visa investment will fund a new Climate Resettlement Programme.
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