Government’s non-policy on tariffs a blow to business

ACT Finance spokesman Rodney Hide said today that the Labour-Alliance Government’s decision to freeze tariffs for five years was a costly non-decision.

“Successful businesses that can compete must now continue to prop up those that can’t.

“The government should decide whether it accepts free trade or is against it. It can’t have a dollar each way. The decision to freeze existing tariffs is a costly non-decision.

“Instead of trying to protect New Zealand businesses from competition, the government should be ensuring that they are competitive. That means lowering taxes – not hiking them, a big no to re-muscling the unions as is proposed and allowing New Zealand businesses the benefits that competition in Accident Insurance was providing.

“The government should be about ensuring a competitive business environment. It should not fall into Jim Anderton’s trap of a return to fortress New Zealand to cover up the failures of economic policy,” concluded Rodney Hide.

ENDS

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