Cancelling Carbon Tax A Good Idea

22 August 2005 PR XXX/05

Cancelling Carbon Tax A Good Idea

It is encouraging to see that a major political party has heeded Federated Farmers' calls to scrap the pointless carbon tax, said Hugh Ritchie, the Federation's spokesman on the Kyoto Protocol.

”The carbon tax will increase costs for farms, businesses and consumers. It will damage New Zealand’s international competitiveness and have no discernible impact on greenhouse gas emissions or climate change. The carbon tax simply doesn’t stack up - except as yet another revenue grab,” Mr Ritchie said.

His comments follow the National Party releasing its tax policy, including dumping the carbon tax. The tax will increase petrol and diesel prices by up to 4.6 cents a litre from 2007.

Farmers also welcome that both National and Labour, to varying degrees, have now committed to cutting taxes, said Don Nicolson, the Federation's economic spokesman.

"Back in April, Federated Farmers included lower taxes as one of its 10 key requirements from the next government. It is pleasing to see that taxes look set to fall in the next three-year term," Mr Nicolson said.

ENDS

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