24 October 2001

Fools Rush In ...

United Future leader, Hon Peter Dunne, says the McLeod Committee's Final Report is a benchmark against which future tax policy should be considered.

He says political parties and commentators making precipitate statements now about the report's recommendations are doing it a disservice.

"As the first comprehensive review of the New Zealand tax system since the early 1980s, this report demands more than knee-jerk reactions."

"In particular, the report's comments on consumption taxes - GST and eco-taxes - versus direct income taxes warrant very careful study."

"The nature of the world's economy has changed dramatically in the last 20 years, and some of the traditional relationships on which the tax system has historically been based have changed forever."

"For example, resource consumption is now a much greater issue than before, and deserves proper recognition by the tax system," he says.

Mr Dunne, a former Minister of Revenue, is critical of both the Government and the Opposition for adopting instant stands on the report's findings.

"Their reactions smack of the adage about fools rushing in."

"This report does not demand the type of instant predictable reactions it has attracted from other political parties."

"It is a valuable and substantial reference document to help shape the consideration of future tax policy."

"United Future will therefore do the report the courtesy it deserves by treating it that way, rather than by responding with the glib sloganeering we have seen so far," Mr Dunne says.

Ends

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