This week the government is implementing their long-awaited tax cuts. The tax cuts differ but are generally small cuts. A couple earning $100,000 a year with no children would pocket an extra $80 a fortnight for example, while a single childless person on minimum wage will save $25 a fortnight.
The tax cuts have been celebrated by some while being criticised by others for being minimal relief, especially for those who need relief from the cost of living the most.
The Government has also put aside an extra $216 million to pay for the scrapping of the excise tax on tobacco. Labour’s health spokesperson has criticised this move, saying the money would be better spent elsewhere.
And the Minister for social development quietly lowered child poverty reduction targets from 13.3% to 9% for 2024/2025 and 11% for 2026/2027. The government says this to make the targets more achievable.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, WIre Host Caeden spoke to Labour Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about these topics.
In March this year, the government made the decision to reduce the benefit for hospital patients who remain hospitalised after 13 weeks.
After 13 weeks, those experiencing long-term hospitalisation would see their benefit reduced to their "hospital rate" which was $55.35 a week (after tax), unless the person has a partner and a child or is a veteran.
For this week’s Get Action! I spoke to Fiona Charlton, volunteer president of New Zealand ME Society, who’s started a petition calling on the government to roll back benefit cuts to people experiencing long-term hospitalisation.
If you’d like to sign this petition, you can find it here:
This week US President Donald Trump signed an order to freeze billions of dollars in Federal grants and loans which, since this interview was conducted, has been rescinded.
Earlier today he signed an executive order to deport non-citizen pro-Palestine student protestors who have any convictions relating to those protests, including trespassing.
On the economic front, America nearly entered a trade war with Colombia over Trump’s deportation policies and the stock of tech giants, including OpenAI, plummeted earlier this week as Chinese company DeepSeek revealed their AI tech.
For our final State of the States, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Andre Fa’aoso from the Yale Daily News about all of these topics as well as what the future of the Trump presidency could hold.
Massey University has proposed cutting courses from the Albany science campus after the University reported a financial downturn.
These cuts would affect more than 100 jobs and cause issues for students pursuing their masters and doctorates.
Nicholas spoke to the Professor of Ecology at Massey University Dr Dianne Brunton about the University's proposed cuts to the Science Campus at Albany.
Nicholas started by asking what the cuts would mean for the science programs
As a part of the coalition government’s cost saving measures, there are 325 proposed job cuts at the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC).
ACC says client-facing teams will not be affected, although, roles in the areas of prevention of sexual violence, road safety and workplace safety are on the chopping block.
The job cuts equate to a proposed 9 percent reduction of ACC’s total workforce.
Producer Sofia Roger Williams spoke to Public Service Association Assistant Secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons about the cuts to roles dealing with sexual violence prevention and the overall impacts these cuts to ACC will have on New Zealanders.
As a result of Israel’s war on Gaza, almost 2 million people in the Gaza strip are at risk of famine and disease and are in urgent need of food and medical aid, as a result of Israel’s mass destruction of civilian infrastructure.
This is on top of the 39,400 Palestinians who have been killed throughout the course of the conflict.
With the government set to implement it’s new tax cut policy today, a campaign was launched by organiser Hayden Eastmond-Mein calling for Kiwis to donate their tax cuts for to aid organisations in Gaza, aptly named “Give your tax cut to Gaza”.
Hayden came down to the station earlier today to tell us about the campaign and how Kiwis can donate their tax cuts.
If you're interested, you can donate to the campaign here:
Amanda speaks with Radio Adelaide's Nicole Wedding about the Government has no intention to increase taxes to help pay for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, job cuts at Airservices Australia are "a huge risk to public safety" and former federal politicians will no longer be able to take free flights on the taxpayers' purse.
95bFM host, Tess Barnett, spoke to Radio Adelaide's Nicole Wedding about the Australian budget leading to University funding cuts, Fairfax journalists go on strike due to editorial job cuts, and how better conditions for 'gig economy' workers in Australia may be to come after Airtasker agrees to minimum working conditions.
95bFM