Alliance Party celebrates election announcement with "Putting people first" manifesto release

Alliance Party media release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday 12 September 2008

The Alliance Party has welcomed the announcement of the 8 November election date with the release of its manifesto for change "Putting People First."

The manifesto is available online at http://alliance.org.nz/2008-election/alliance-party-manifesto/

Alliance Party spokesperson Victor Billot says the Alliance stands for a complete shift in priorities.

"Our 2008 manifesto shows a new direction for New Zealand, where our citizens are valued as people not just production units."

Mr Billot says the key Alliance policies are job security, affordable housing, quality public health care, free education, public control of electricity and environmental protection.

He says the Alliance would revamp the tax system by cutting taxes on low incomes, removing GST, introducing a capital gains tax and a financial transactions tax, and raising taxes on higher incomes.

"Our tax policy would pay for a secure and stable society that would have greater opportunity for all, less social problems and less crime, and a strong community."

Mr Billot says the crisis of corporate capitalism was resulting in massive instability in the global economy and the unfolding catastrophe of climate change and resource depletion.

"People have a choice at this election. Do we want to continue down the path of self-destructive, greed driven selfishness, or do we want to work together to build a future for all of us?"

Key Alliance policies are:

Job security and full employment

Hundreds of thousands of Kiwis are struggling with casual, insecure jobs. The Alliance will protect workers in low paid jobs, defend workers’ rights and increase the minimum wage.

Public control of our electricity

Electricity should be owned by the people under community control and integrated planning - we’ll take it back off the corporates and give our families and old people affordable power.

Quality public health care

People are dying on waiting lists. The Alliance will properly fund public health and throw out user pays and means testing.

Free education: drop the debt!

The Alliance stands for free education for all. Student loans are out of control. Let’s drop the debt and give young people a good start in life.

Good housing

The Alliance supports low-interest, no deposit loans for low income people to buy their own homes.

Protecting our environment

The Alliance will protect our environment from the problems caused by unsustainable economic policies.

Real Democracy

The Alliance says that New Zealanders have a right to make the decisions about their lives and their communities.

ENDS

© Scoop Media