Christopher Luxon says he wants National to base its tax and fiscal plans on the latest economic data available. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
National Party leader Christopher Luxon says he is waiting for the latest economic figures before the party releases details of its tax and fiscal plan.
On Monday, the party had just announced its plan for taxpayers to receive a yearly list and breakdown of taxes paid, if it were elected to government.
But when asked when it would be putting out details of its tax plan, Luxon said the economy was dynamic and they were waiting for more recent figures before they put out the plan.
"I want to make sure that we're basing our numbers off the latest set of numbers that we have, the economy is dynamic, our economy is deteriorating quickly and it's important that we base our response on that."
"Kiwis will see our plans, our tax plan, our fisc plan well before the election" - Christopher Luxon
New Zealanders would see National's tax and fiscal plans well before the election, once National had seen the latest set of Crown account numbers, he said.
Luxon said he hoped the country was able to avoid recession because unemployment came with recession.
But there were some very challenging times ahead with inflation and interest rates stubbornly high, he said.
"You know last quarter the economy declined 0.6 percent, yes annually it's growing at 2.4 percent, but what we need to do is make sure that we've got tourism firing, we've got agriculture firing, we've got international students firing - that creates more tax and that creates more opportunities to afford and to invest in our public services like health and education."
Luxon said he was not concerned about the latest Newshub poll which shows his rating has dropped to 16.4 percent.
"Well look the only poll I'm focused on now is October 14th, it is going to be a very close election."
In a pre-Budget speech, Luxon said major companies increasingly looked to Wellington for direction before developing their own investment plans.
Luxon said a good example of that was what was happening in the energy sector.
"You actually have a governance that wants to do [a pumped hydro scheme at] Lake Onslow at $16 billion, but on the other hand you have an energy sector that says 'we want to invest $30 billion over the next 25 [years on] renewable electricity.
"And the point is they're not prepared to make those investments because there's massive uncertainty about what's happening with Onslow and what government intervention or action will look like - yet they are deeply committed and it's in their commercial interests to make those investments."
The windfarm at Makara near Wellington took two years to build and eight years to get consent and it powered 75,000 homes, Luxon said.
"In government we should make it a one year consent for renewable electricity and a two year build and then we get the benefits faster."
There was a challenge in terms of getting government, business and community organisations working together, he said.
"I just think there's been from Wellington, working with the community sector or working with business, there hasn't been good partnership or good consultation and that's what I want to get that balance right. I want all three actors working together on our big problems that we've got and actually get solutions and getting things done."