Ilam MP Gerry Brownlee today said the Alliance announcement of a five percent tariff increase on all goods imported into New Zealand except those from Australia was further proof of his assertion that a Labour-Alliance government would put at least $192 per week of extra costs on to families in New Zealand.

“Alliance leader Jim Anderton denied this at a recent public debate but today confirmed it by announcing his party’s tariff policy which will see a five percent increase on all imported goods other than those from Australia”, said Gerry Brownlee.

“Couple this with the Alliance’s proposal to reverse tax cuts of recent years and the expected 3 percent rise in interest rates in the event of an Alliance-Labour government, and you have quickly racked up the $192 per week.

“The Alliance tariff policy is plain stupid. I have clothing manufacturers in my electorate who have told me that if the tariff on imported goods went up 100, even 200 percent they would still not manufacture them in New Zealand. They are successful businesses that have significant export markets developed as a result of their positioning themselves to produce very high quality goods.

“The sad thing about Mr Anderton’s attitudes to tariffs is that they will not create one single extra job, but they will put some New Zealanders out of work and most definitely dramatically increase the costs of maintaining a family.

“While I am delighted that my proposition is being confirmed by the Alliance, I am deeply troubled that this means reduced opportunity for my constituents,” said Mr Brownlee.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>