Yet another new tax from wasteful Government
Todd McClay - Tourism
27 September 2018
The Government continues to prove its only solutions to any issue are working groups or more taxes, with yet another tax confirmed today, National’s Tourism spokesperson Todd McClay says.
“Hot on the heels of two new fuel
taxes, including an additional 4 cents per litre being
imposed on record petrol prices on Sunday, the Government
has confirmed a tourist tax.
“This is on top of more
taxes on property, online goods and a likely Capital Gains
Tax – as well as axing National’s proposed tax
cuts.
“National understands we need to spend more on
tourism infrastructure, that’s why we significantly
boosted investment while we were in Government.
“But
Labour’s latest tax is a flawed mess.
“Our largest
tourism market, Australia, is exempt so the justification
for the tax – to help pay for pressures created by
tourists, is undermined. And the administration costs of
collecting the tax will suck up a chunk of the money
raised.
“It’s important to note that tourism is
one of our largest export earners and the benefits to New
Zealand far outweigh the costs.
“According to
Deloitte, the Government already collects $3.27 billion a
year in international tourism-related revenue and spends
$638 million on the industry, receiving a net gain of more
than $2.6 billion.
“But these tourists don’t have
to come here. We are already expensive to get to and the
Government is driving up the cost of living. If the
Government continues to add more costs we’ll see fewer
people choosing to travel here.
“This is a
Government that loves to tax yet continues to recklessly
spend that taxpayer money on poor priorities like the $2.8
billion tertiary education bribe, $175 million so far on
working groups as well as summits and keeping NZ First
happy. If it got its spending under control it wouldn’t
need to keep adding new taxes.
“The Government
continues to impose costs on the economy which are only
going to slow growth. It needs to get its spending under
control and focus on growing the economy, not slowing it
down.”
ends