Norgate calls for tax cuts

Entrepreneur Craig Norgate reckons Labour should swallow its pride and introduce tax cuts if it wins the election.

But he says the chances of that occurring "depend on how big a hole is dug during the campaign".

Almost 100 per cent of businessmen surveyed by the Herald want taxes cut, with a substantial number - 63 per cent - saying personal taxes should be cut first.

"The reality is that what Labour's offering today is different to what they were offering two months ago," said Norgate.

"I actually think - and this is my personal view - that the National tax package offers more for Labour's core constituency. I don't believe it is fiscally imprudent because I actually think it will be self-financing with the energy that gets created when people really do get back their focus."

He believes that Michael Cullen has done a "bloody good job" as Finance Minister. "It's not just the prudence ... I think he's gone past that. But it's just unfortunate there seems to be a doctrine attitude from within his party that it's 'anything but tax cuts'.

"I don't blame him for that ... I don't think it's his view."

Norgate says if Labour could sit down and talk to the unions - "without the pull from the left" - the vast majority, who earn above $40,000, would support a policy shift to embrace tax cuts.

"It's very hard for people like Ross Wilson (Council of Trade Unions boss) to deny there's anything in this for people.

"So I'd just like to see when the dust settles - as I don't think there will be a change of Government - that they [Labour] do realise we can afford it and that it is better policy."