Thursday 28 Feb 2002

Rural New Zealanders will be bitterly angry to learn that they will pay an extra five cents per litre for petrol after the Government's disastrous Transport Package was announced today, ACT Rural Affairs Spokesman Owen Jennings said today.

"Rural people are more dependent on their car than other New Zealanders. They travel further for business and pleasure than their urban cousins.

"There is no need for this savage increase. Motorists already pay too much in taxes for roading that never goes near a road.

"Farmers as exporters bear the brunt of road user charges as well.

"This isn't just `biting the hand that feeds you', it is chewing it up and spitting it out. The election can't come quick enough for rural New Zealand," Mr Jennings said.

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