The minority Alliance/Labour Government's introduction of the Tariff (Zero Duty Removal) Amendment Bill is another example of this Government's unfair approach to low income New Zealanders while it seeks to help narrow sectional interests, Opposition Spokesperson on Trade John Luxton said today.

"This Bill will ensure that all New Zealanders will continue to pay nearly 20 percent more for their clothes, materials and footwear than they were going to under the policies of the previous National Government.

"Low income New Zealanders spend a greater amount of their income on clothing and footwear, so the Alliance/Labour policy will hit them much harder. The $25 shirt will not reduce to $20, nor the $50 trousers to $40, nor the $100 dress to $80, nor the $500 suit to $400 as a result of this policy.

"The beneficiaries of this legislation will be a small number of manufacturers of these products operating in New Zealand, some of whom are overseas owned and operated.

"As with ACC changes lowering workplace safety incentives and the Employment Relations Bill providing for hefty compulsory union fees from workers, this legislation will again hurt low income New Zealanders," Mr Luxton said.

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