Youth policty Q&A: Jim Anderton

Jim Anderton

Politicians were asked to answer questions on their policies as part of the Herald's commitment in this election campaign to informed choice - our promise to explain the real issues. We have held forums on tax, transport, health and education.

Now it's time to hear about issues facing younger voters. Here are the edited highlights of the 45-minute question-and-answer sessions with Progressive leader Jim Anderton.

Young people are concerned about their abilities to become homeowners. Do they have to accept a future of being tenants rather than homeowners?

They shouldn't accept that they have to be tenants unless they really want to. I'm strongly in favour of home ownership. It's just that some people own lots of homes and some people don't own any. And that's one of the problems. Partly that's because home ownership carries with it some advantages that it doesn't have in many countries - for example no capital gains tax.

If there was a fully equitable tax system capital gains would be part of it.

If we are not going to do that, and I don't see anything on the horizon that says we are, then you have to do better at getting people to be able to bridge the deposit gap.

Our answer to that is the capitalisation of Family Benefit. Under the current family income scheme proposed by this Government you would only have to capitalise the first six years of your first child or one child to get $30,000. That would basically bridge the deposit gap for most people.

How many people would you want to see in New Zealand?

I would be very supportive of a population policy debate. It's a question of the quality of people that you have. Having high-quality citizens, whether they are nurtured in your own country or brought here as immigrants, is a positive thing.

What would you do to address the binge-drinking culture?

I would raise the drinking age. That doesn't solve it but it is a symbol. When Parliament lowered the drinking age it kind of gave a bit of a hint that "this is all right".

We don't now have a one-drug culture, we have a multi-drug culture. We are fighting not only the effect of alcohol, we're fighting the effects of drugs and alcohol. If there's one thing I've set my mind to advocate for it's a multi-dimensional approach - raising the drinking age, enforcing very heavy penalties on traders in drugs, but having rehabilitation centres throughout the country.

We have to have education, rehabilitation treatment, and enforcement. We have to have people understanding - particularly young people - what the effect of alcohol is.

How will you help young migrants enhance their own lives and ensure their presence enhances New Zealand society?

Apart from all the opportunities that they should have that are the same as all other New Zealanders - education, employment, access to essential services - the most important thing is a positive reinforcement of the appreciation we have for them choosing New Zealand.

It really saddens me to see new immigrants used as political footballs. These young people who come with their parents are ... the future, just as other young New Zealanders are. If they grow up with an attitude that New Zealand is a xenophobic society, suspicious of anyone who's a bit different, it won't enhance New Zealand's reputation with them. Once people have chosen to come to a country, it is the next generation that is the most important. They've got to feel that New Zealand is their home and that they are welcome here.

All New Zealanders are immigrants. There is nobody whose ancestors came from here. The world is on a hunt for the best and brightest of all, and we'd better be at the top of the list because we're going to need them.

Should New Zealand still be taking into account the effects of colonisation when it makes policy?

No. My ancestors were Irish. If they were still doing that they'd be wanting to fight the English all the time. You've got to get on. I could live my life trying to find out how my ancestors were badly treated by the English but I haven't bothered. I'm sure they were, but what can I do about it?

What's one key thing that you will do to make New Zealand a better place in which to live?

New Zealand is often accused of being a bit soft. When visiting some other countries you can sometimes feel when you land in the country that it's a pretty harsh place. You don't want to get out of line, you don't want to be without money or whatever because you're going to be in big trouble. With New Zealand there is a softness to it, which we get criticised for. But I'd far sooner live in a soft country than a harsh one, so I think we should celebrate that. I'd like to inculcate a celebration of the softness of New Zealand, rather than be defensive about it.

How are you a good role model?

I would never claim to be a role model, but I have learned a lot about life and responsibility for each other and I try to emulate that in what I do. I've learned a lot about myself over the years, and I've tried to change my attitudes as a result. I had a family tragedy and up until then I thought I was pretty bulletproof. Now I know I'm not and that those around me are not, and it changes your attitude. In my electorate office I see hundreds of people who are not bulletproof and they come to me because they know I'm not bulletproof. I'd like people to understand that I have learned from my experiences and now I'm a different person. And I think that's how you become a role model.

Which country should New Zealand try to emulate?

None. Because I don't know of any other country that I would want to emulate. I know other countries have got good qualities but New Zealand is the best country in the world. I don't say that in a nationalist sense. There is no other country like it. We have a unique culture. We've got everything we need here and we can do it the best of anybody.