"There has been a need for some time to reduce the company tax rate in New Zealand. If we are to get the economic growth we need to improve the wealth of the country we must support the businesses that produce this wealth – this announcement does do some of that," she says.
The Bad, in her books comes under Cullen's major focus of new tertiary spending "which is again universities and polytechnics, at a time when industry is still identifying major skill shortages in apprenticeship based occupations
"The lack of suitable skilled trades people for our industry remains a constraint on growth – as it is for other industries as well. Government has been quick to announce new money for apprenticeship training but the actual amount is very small compared to that given to the polytechnic and university sectors – and only half of the additional spending that was given from the 05/06 to 06/07 budgets.
"If the Government is serious about supporting industry training it needs to make investments in the sector that reflect the rhetoric."
The boring is associated with yet more cost and compliance with the unexpected announcement of compulsory contributions by employers if their employees choose to enter KiwiSaver.
From a business perspective in the medium term, she says employers we will need to look at the impact of KiwiSaver on future wage claims although employer contributions do not come into force until April 2008.
"However there still needs to be some legislation passed urgently through Parliament to enable this to happen. Once this has been done we will update all our members on what is required.
"KiwiSaver is a given for businesses and employees and PrintNZ will support our members – large and small – as the implementation details become available. We have begun our work in this area with our recent round of seminars."
