Lindsay Tisch National Internal Affairs Spokesperson

3 October 2001

Govt imposes another unavoidable tax

National's Internal Affairs spokesperson Lindsay Tisch has labelled the Government's unexpected move to increase the cost of issuing birth, death and marriage certificates by over 40% as yet another unavoidable tax.

"This is another tax by a desperate Government to help fund pet programmes such as the Superfund, the People's Bank and lump sum ACC payments. This is another burden for New Zealand families already facing increased household costs.

"On top of certificate issuing fees leaping from $21 to $30, the cost to obtain a genealogy electronic print-out rises from $9 to $30 - that's a massive 233% increase. That will upset the many New Zealanders who spend much time researching the past.

"These increases come without consultation or warning. Once again Labour's election policy of no tax increases for 95% of New Zealanders has been broken," Mr Tisch said.

Ends

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