15 November. Hokonui Gold host Nick Jeffrey talks to John about revelations of an alleged assassination plot against him before the discussion moves on to the "media fire storm" surrounding the draconian Electoral Finance Bill and the threat that Bill poses to democracy in New Zealand.  The exchange closes with a discussion about Fonterra's wishes to go public.

13 November. John outlines the most egregious components of the Labour Government's proposed 'reforms' to the manner in which elections are run and reassures viewers that, if elected, National will scrap the legislation.

13 November. During Question Time, John Key takes on Michael Cullen, who is standing in for Helen Clark, on some of the more draconian measures in new legislation 'reforming' election finance laws.

"Democracy under attack" – New Zealand Herald Editorial

The editorial in this morning's New Zealand Herald says it all. Democracy in New Zealand is under attack from Labour's Electoral Finance Bill.

Labour is trying to rort the electoral system because it is desperate to retain power. New Zealanders should be deeply worried when a government starts to put its own preservation ahead of their right to freely express their political opinions.

National has been campaigning for months against this travesty of a bill. In August, I spoke to the National Press Club and described in detail what is wrong with it and why it should be scrapped. For more, read my press release today.

Labour's spin on tax cuts

Watch my video journal, here.

Helen Clark and Michael Cullen have spent the past eight years trotting out excuse after excuse about why they can't cut taxes. Now they're claiming they wanted to cut taxes all along but didn't because of Treasury advice. That just doesn't stack up. Throughout its term in office, Labour has known it could afford to cut taxes while also carrying out its spending and investment programme.

In the House last Tuesday, I showed how Helen Clark has misled the public over personal tax cuts and the advice she claims to have received from officials. Watch and comment on my questions to her.

Yesterday, on TVNZ's Agenda, Michael Cullen showed that his conversion to tax cuts is grudging, at best. He has no appreciation that tax revenue is taxpayer money not the Government's; he has no understanding of the benefits to the economy of cutting taxes; and he has given up on trying to narrow the earnings gap with Australia.

That's just not good enough.

National is committed to lowering the tax burden on all New Zealanders. In a growing economy, reducing tax should be part of the routine business of government. Labour's sudden and cynical road-to-Damascus conversion just isn't credible.

Focusing on Law and Order

A violent crime occurs in New Zealand every 10 minutes. There's a sexual attack every four hours. And someone is robbed every three-and-a-half hours.

The level of crime in our society is unacceptable. Kiwis and their families have a right to feel safer in their homes, their streets, and their neighbourhoods. That's why more effective law and order policies will be a major focus of a National Government.

Recently, when I spoke at the Police Association National Conference, I outlined a number of new policies to enhance policing. These have been developed by our spokesman Simon Power after consulting with sector groups and everyday New Zealanders. They include:
 
1. Introducing tasers, subject to a positive evaluation of the trial.
2. Requiring DNA samples to be taken from people arrested for offences punishable by imprisonment. Like fingerprints, samples will be retained only if the person is convicted.
3. Giving police the ability to issue time-bound, on-the-spot protection orders.
4. Strengthening the Bail Act to make it harder for people accused of violent crime to get bail.

We will complete the campaign to recruit an additional 1000 sworn and 250 non-sworn officers by mid-2009. We want the bulk of these extra sworn officers to be given pro-active policing roles that make our streets safer and prevent crime.

We will work hard to ensure that the public's confidence in the police is maintained. We want to see progress in the implementation of the recommendations of the Bazley Report on police conduct, and we support the Police Act review to ensure the police have the legislative powers, controls, and obligations that the public expects.

We will clamp down on gangs by:
1. Strengthening the law that makes it illegal to be a member of a criminal organisation.
2. Amending the Crimes Act to make it easier for police to conduct surveillance on gang communications.
3. Changing the Local Government Act to give police increased powers to remove and storm gang fortifications.
4. Amending the Sentencing Act to make gang membership an aggravating factor in sentencing.

These are just the first in a comprehensive and interlocking series of law and order policies that I will release in the run-up to the election. In coming months I will cover:
- Youth justice.
- Enhancing the rights of victims.
- Sentencing the worst offenders.
- Rehabilitating those offenders who are redeemable.
- Improving the management of our prisons and our courts. 

National is 100% committed to reducing crime, making our criminal justice system more effective, and building a safer future for all New Zealanders.

Setting the agenda on tax

Earlier in the year, Labour labelled our policy on Turbo-charging Community Groups as "Tory charity". But last week it released a paper on the tax treatment of volunteers that's almost identical to the policy National announced in May. Community groups and volunteers will welcome this development.

Now that Labour is adopting our policy on the tax treatment of volunteers and changing its tune on personal tax cuts, it's obvious that National is well and truly setting the agenda on tax policy.

John Key MP
Leader of the National Party

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