When the
Government increased student living costs and allowances, it
was inevitable that rental costs would be driven up says the
New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union. A series of stories this
week have highlighted the rental crisis in Wellington and
be
Taxpayers’ Union Economist Joe Ascroft said
“The policy of giving students more money each week during
a rental accommodation shortage has had the effect of
throwing taxpayers’ money on the fire.”
“Policies
should be judged by their results, not their intentions. The
intention of this policy was to help struggling students,
but the result has been to pour money into the pockets of
asset rich landlords.”
“It’s not just students
who are paying higher rents either. Everyone in the rental
market is having their income eroded by the Government’s
choice to inflate prices.”
“The cost of this
policy is $200 million. If this is what success looks like
to the Minister of Finance, then taxpayers are in for a
shock under this government.”
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