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Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne today welcomed Prime Minister John Key’s announcement of the Youth Mental Health package, saying it contained positive changes that support and enhance ongoing work in youth suicide prevention.

A further three synthetic cannabis substances found in products sold in some dairies are in the process of being banned and are expected to be off the shelves by the end of next week, Associate Minister of Health Peter Dunne announced today.

This will soon bring to 24 the number of substances banned under Temporary Class Drug Notices, Mr Dunne said. The provisions in the Misuse of Drugs Act to issue such notices became law in August 2011.

The latest substances have been identified as the chemicals AM-1248, AM-2232 and UR-144.

Revenue Minister Peter Dunne has countered concerns that a change proposed in a student loans bill before Parliament may result in some borrowers losing their interest-free status when the loan is transferred from StudyLink to Inland Revenue on 1 April 2012.

“This interpretation of what is in the bill is mischievous and, quite simply, wrong,” Mr Dunne said. “I want to re-assure borrowers that the Government is committed to interest-free loans for borrowers who stay here.”

Use-of-money interest rates on underpaid and overpaid tax have been changed in line with market rates on which they are based, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne announced today.

"The rate charged by Inland Revenue on underpaid tax will fall from 8.89% to 8.40%, and the rate for overpaid tax will fall from 2.18% to 1.75%, from 8 May 2012," Mr Dunne said.

Use-of-money interest rates are reviewed regularly to reflect current market interest rates.

The new rates were approved by Order in Council on Monday 26 March.
 

The Government has tightened livestock tax rules to prevent farmers who change valuation schemes receiving an unintended tax break, Finance Minister Bill English and Revenue Minister Peter Dunne announced today.

Ministers said the current rules were too loose and allowed some farmers switching between the two main livestock valuation methods to receive an unfair tax advantage over those farmers who applied the rules as they were intended.

Working for Families tax credits will increase from 1 April this year, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne announced today.

“This adjustment will assist Families who are eligible for the WFF tax credits and compensate for cost of living increases over past year”, said Mr Dunne.

“These increases will make a real difference to families for whom every cent counts,” said Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

“A sound tax system is a good platform for Government to begin consolidating and strengthening the economy and getting on with rebuilding” says Revenue Minister Peter Dunne.

Mr Dunne was speaking at the International Fiscal Association’s annual conference today where he released details of the Government’s tax policy work programme for the next eighteen months.

“It’s one year on since the big earthquake in Canterbury and Government recognises that people in Canterbury are still dealing with very difficult circumstances,” says Revenue Minister Peter Dunne.

“The Government has therefore extended a temporary measure introduced after the February earthquakes for a further six months,” Mr Dunne announced today.

Commenting on a new website, which will help employers seeking to establish payroll giving schemes in their workplaces, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne today congratulated the group behind the website for their efforts.

Payroll Giving is a scheme which allows an employee to donate to their nominated charity through their employer’s payroll. Mr Dunne said that the Payroll Giving Early Adopters Group which comprises a mix of small and large employers had worked very hard to make Payroll Giving more accessible for other employers.

Revenue Minister Peter Dunne has invited the Finance and Expenditure Committee to consider deferring the application date affecting GST payments on late payment penalties to allow affected businesses time to change their systems.

“The Taxation (Annual Rates, Returns Filing, and Remedial Matters Bill) introduced in September 2011 contains a measure in Clause 137 which makes it clear that GST is payable on late payment fees,” Mr Dunne said.

A common ingredient in ‘party pills’ and some weight loss and sports performance supplements is being banned and expected to be off the market in early April, Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne announced today.

A Temporary Class Drug Notice has been placed on the substance commonly known as DMAA ((1,3-dimethylamylamine), bringing to 21 the total number of substances banned under the notices brought in under amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act in August last year, Mr Dunne said.

Associate Conservation Minister and UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne today led legislation for a Game Animal Council to its First Reading in Parliament, delivering on a key provision of the party’s confidence and supply agreement with National.

“This Bill is a key part of UnitedFuture’s confidence and supply agreement and I am delighted we have been able to deliver on it so early in the parliamentary term,” Mr Dunne said.

Sixteen aerially assisted trophy hunting (AATH) concessions are to be granted by Associate Conservation Minister Peter Dunne under the Wild Animal Control Act.

The Minister said he was obliged to consider the applications within the framework of current legislation and has decided on the following under Section 22 of the Act:

New guidelines for journalists reporting on suicides have been developed with the media and not imposed on them, and that should be key to their success, Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne says.

“Media buy-in for such guidelines is crucial. This is the first time that media organisations have agreed to use a single, consistent set of guidelines.

“The fact that these have not been imposed from outside augurs well for their success,” Mr Dunne said in launching the resource today.

An additional synthetic cannabis substance is in the process of being banned and expected to be off the shelves late next week, Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne announced today.

This brings to 20 the total number of substances now banned under Temporary Class Drug Notices, Mr Dunne said, in noting that it comes days after the head of the National Poisons Centre, Dr Leo Schep, said the centre was no longer receiving calls about synthetic cannabis.