Annette
KING
Acting Transport Spokesperson

18 December 2012 MEDIA STATEMENT
Ho, Ho, Ho…And A More Expensive New Year

Put him in a red suit and Gerry Brownlee could make a half decent Santa, yet news that he plans to forge ahead with a petrol tax hike to pay for the Government’s gold-plated Roads of National Significance is more akin to Ebenezer Scrooge, Labour’s Acting Transport spokesperson Annette King says.

Her comments follow today’s announcement that petrol tax will rise by nine cents a litre over three years with road user charges increasing by a similar amount to help pay for National’s RoNS programme.

“Mr Brownlee says he’s telling us that the price will go up now so we have six months or so to get used to the idea. Merry Christmas New Zealand – and here’s to a more expensive New Year.

“The Government is not only borrowing millions to build these roads, many of which we know are uneconomical, but is taxing and tolling Kiwis like never before.

“It is ludicrous. At a time when everyone else is being asked to tighten their belts, and we are told there is no money for housing or public health promotion, the Government continues to throw good money after bad into its irrational RoNS building projects.

“This is the same Government that canned plans for a regional road tax that would have paid for local projects such as the Auckland rail link, because of its cost to locals. The RoNS are costing every New Zealander – whether they live in Invercargill or the Far North.

“The Government has put too many items on its Christmas wish list. Now it’s realised that the kitty is empty and is having to scramble around to find new ways to pay.”

labour.org.nz

ENDS

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