Petrol tax hikes further drive up cost of living

The Government is refusing to accept the impact it is having on the back pockets of New Zealanders by forcing through another petrol tax hike when Kiwis are already paying record prices for fuel, National Party Leader Simon Bridges says.

“The cost of living is increasing in New Zealand, with petrol and rents reaching record levels, and electricity is expected to follow – all as a direct result of Government policies.

“New Zealanders are already paying record prices for petrol, with the national fuel price at $2.44 a litre for 91, around half of which is already tax. That follows the Government adding another 4 cents per litre of tax on petrol overnight.

“And that’s just the first of three 4 cent hikes plus the likelihood Auckland’s 11.5 cents per litre regional fuel tax will soon be rolled out around the rest of the country.

“Under this Government petrol prices have increased by 38 cents, meaning it now costs Kiwis an extra $20 each time they fill up their cars.

“On top of this, ACC this week proposed a 12.1 per cent hike in the average motor vehicle levy for road users, including almost 2 cents a litre increase for petrol.

“At the same time the Government is spending billions of dollars on a tram in Auckland and sucking funding out of regional roads. People outside Auckland are paying more and getting less.

“This is just the latest blow to wage earners and businesses struggling to deal with the already high petrol costs.

“New Zealand families and businesses are being squeezed as costs rise but incomes aren’t keeping up. Data from Statistics New Zealand shows the cost of living rose faster than incomes over the last three months.

“National’s plan is different. We would get rid of the regional fuel tax, fund regional roading projects right around the country, find a more cost effective solution to Auckland’s tram, get Government spending under control, drive down the costs Kiwi families are facing and make sure they keep more of what they earn.”

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