Simon Bridges - Leader of the Opposition

9 April 2018

Raid starts on back pockets of New Zealanders

The Government’s raid on the back pockets and futures of hardworking New Zealanders has now started in earnest, though worse is yet to come, Opposition Leader Simon Bridges says.

“In just six months, the Ardern-Peters Government has:

Axed National’s tax package which would have seen the average worker more than $1000 a year better off
Announced an 11.5 cents per litre fuel tax in Auckland – which could be rolled out around the rest of New Zealand in three years
Proposed an additional, nationwide fuel tax of up to 13.8 cents per litre, which would be rolled out over three years
Gutted $5 billion from regional roading projects, meaning planned new roads right around New Zealand, which would have promoted regional growth and created jobs will not go ahead
Axed funding for regional irrigation projects which would have helped farmers and growers deal with severe weather, providing certainty, jobs and export growth
Announced large scale industrial relations reform which will see fewer jobs created and fewer opportunities for people looking to enter the workforce
Appointed a Tax Working Group to devise a list of new taxes to impose on hardworking New Zealanders

“These are just some examples but they add up to a real, negative impact on the lives and livelihoods of hardworking New Zealanders and on our national prosperity.

“They will mean lower incomes, fewer jobs and a higher cost of living.

“The petrol tax alone will have a real impact. It will mean motorists paying up to an extra $15 every time they fill up. It will also mean they are paying more for things like groceries as freight operators pass their significant additional costs onto consumers.

“And it’s just the start. The Government is considering a raft of new taxes while its plan to hike the minimum wage to $20 will mean even fewer jobs and higher costs.

“What makes it all worse is the changes are not only unnecessary but they are taking New Zealand backwards. Our economic growth is stalling while the world’s is speeding up and that’s not acceptable.

“This Government needs to get in behind New Zealanders, not stand in their way and National will be working to ensure they do.

“National MPs will also continue to work with New Zealanders in our communities to come up with the new plans and policies to build on our success and take New Zealand forward as we work to earn the right to govern again in 2020.”

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