Aren’t Auckland motorists being punished enough, Phil?

5 April 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance is calling phooey on Phil Goff’s claim in today’s NZ Herald that the Auckland Council Regional Fuel Tax is ‘necessary’, pointing out that if Mr Goff delivered the 3-6% efficiency he promised neither the national fuel tax or his local fuel tax would be necessary.

Ratepayers Alliance spokesperson Jo Holmes says, “As though the Mayor hasn’t put enough pressure on Auckland ratepayers and motorists, Phil Goff is now welcoming assistance from Wellington to tax motorists even more and spend the revenue on trams and cycleways.”

“Phil Goff wouldn’t need this national fuel tax, or even his own regional fuel tax, if he had simply kept the promises he made before the election to cut wasteful spending."

“Now that the Government has bailed him out, he probably thinks he can give up on finding efficiencies entirely. This would be a dangerous mistake – ratepayers expect Phil Goff to keep his promises and cut waste."

"And if the Government is taking over the Mayor's plans to spend on trams and cycleways, then that should be the perfect opportunity to walk back his proposed rate hikes and regional fuel tax.”

ENDS

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