David
CUNLIFFE
Revenue Spokesperson

19 March 2013 MEDIA STATEMENT
Second tax back down undermines coalition

John Key’s admission that “there is “virtually no chance” of the iPad tax going ahead marks two major tax back downs and two Peter Dunne slap downs by John Key in just two days, says Labour’s Revenue spokesperson David Cunliffe.

“Once again John Key has thrown his frenemy Peter Dunne under the bus by publicly vetoing his Revenue Minister.

“The National/United Future confidence and supply agreement lies in tatters. What has Peter Dunne got left to contribute? His tax ideas are petty penny pinching and completely passé.

“The iPad and cellphone tax is a deeply unpopular attack on young people who are working to build New Zealand’s knowledge economy while trying to balance time with their families. We can’t have a high-tech economy by taxing high tech tools.

“It’s outrageous how this Government continues to try to rush through unfair and unworkable new taxes without doing proper due diligence.

“Ultimately that’s because the car park tax and the iPad and cell phone tax weren’t actually intended to raise revenue – as Peter Dunne admitted himself at Question time today. They were desperation driven by the need to grab revenue from deep in Kiwis’ pockets.

“Following Mr Key’s surprise statement immediately prior to Question Time today, Peter Dunne has again been humiliated on the iPad and cell phone tax. This dopey tax is going the way of the dodo,” David Cunliffe said.

Mr Cunliffe has repeated his recommendation that Peter Dunne respond to the snubs to his United Future Party by vetoing John Key’s shabby casino deal, in which he holds the casting vote.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

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