Don Brash National Finance Spokesperson

10 October 2002

Tax programme just tinkering - Brash

Most of the initiatives included in the Government's tax policy work programme announced today represent mere tinkering, says National's Finance spokesman Dr Don Brash.

"Dr Cullen talks of supporting growth and innovation. The best way to do that is to lower the overall tax burden, and in particular, to reduce the company tax rate from what is currently the highest in the Asia Pacific region.

"There is nothing in any of the measures announced today by the Government that will achieve that.

"Dr Cullen also talks of lowering compliance costs when it is his own Government's decision to increase the top personal tax rate that has added considerable complexity to the tax system.

"If this is the extent of what the Government intends doing in tax over the next two years, there remains little hope of the economy achieving 4 per cent sustainable growth," said Dr Brash.

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