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Ladies and Gentlemen
It is a very great pleasure to be here on behalf of Helen Clark to open your conference on "Leading the Way: Achieving Peak Performance Through Implementing Socially Responsible Business".

The topic you have invited me to speak to today - "The Policy Programme From Here" - has forced me to do a stock take of what we have achieved and of work in progress. It has also made me take a step back from the minutiae of daily decision making to take a look at the bigger picture. For that, I thank you.

The ACC annual report, tabled today in Parliament, vindicates the decision to restore workplace accident insurance to the state - with better injury prevention and rehabilitation programmes backed by a strong financial performance says Accident Insurance Minister Dr Michael Cullen.

Thank you for the opportunity to address the Public Sector Finance 4th annual forum.

"We'll sit round the table and discuss superannuation with National when National is prepared to be straight with us and the New Zealand public about its real intentions," Finance Minister Michael Cullen said today.

Shipley's half truth as bad as making it up - Cullen

The question of whether employers paid cheaper accident insurance premiums under private insurers or ACC is back on the boil but according to Accident Insurance Minister Dr Michael Cullen,

Employers and the self employed are paying $50 million dollars less this year for workplace accident insurance than they did under the private scheme and further reductions are likely with good safety management programmes says Accident Insurance Minister Dr Michael Cullen.

I would like to thank the organisers of this conference. It provides an excellent forum for dialogue between the Government and the leaders of industry.

The government is a quarter of a way through our first term. We have taken care to maintain a stable policy course – a steady rebalancing rather than wholesale restructuring.

Thank you for inviting me to speak this morning. It's a great pleasure to be able to address the NZAMI Annual Conference for the third time, but for the first time as Minister of Immigration.

The New Zealand subsidiary of the pharmaceutical company, Merck Sharp and Dohme will get a 12.5 percent boost to their research budget under proposed tax law changes.

"Written submissions are now being taken for the Independent Review into the Operation of Monetary Policy," Finance Minister Michael Cullen announced today.

Thank you for inviting me to talk with you this morning. I was asked specifically to discuss what business regards as two of the more contentious areas of government policy – accident compensation and changes to employment legislation.

"The tax inquiry is intended to be architectural in nature. It will examine how the tax structure meets New Zealand's current and future needs," Revenue Minister Michael Cullen said today.

News and happenings from the Office of Hon Dr Michael Cullen

July 2000

BUSINESS CONFIDENCE - FACT OR POLITICS?

Late last week I heard economist Brendan Donovan talking on the radio about the recent improvement in business confidence. He attributed the lift to a number of factors, including the government's concerted effort to talk with business.

"The recent pickup in business confidence reflects the underlying strength in the economy and should continue as the export recovery gathers momentum," Finance Minister Michael Cullen said today.

Thank you for the invitation to speak with you this morning. I welcome the opportunity to be talk with people who actually walk the walk of provincial development. People like you - who take the theory of regional economics and make it happen.

"I am assuming that National's latest stance on superannuation is just a holding position. Any other interpretation would be unkind," Finance Minister Michael Cullen said

Revenue Minister Michael Cullen today explicitly ruled out any intention by the Government to introduce a capital gains tax on real property transactions.

Foreign Minister Phil Goff called Fijian High Commissioner HE Isimeli Bainimara in to his Wellington office at noon today to express directly New Zealand's condemnation of events in Fiji and the failure of authorities to make progress towards restoring democracy.

Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today. The Government is making a concerted effort to build sustainable relationships with business on as many levels as possible – from the self-employed to the corporate sector, from farmers to foreign investors.

Thank you for inviting me here this evening. You will be aware, perhaps, that the Government is currently making a concerted effort to speak directly with business people around the country.