A special health tax might sound good but the
track record of "dedicated" taxes is not good, says Business
NZ Chief Executive Simon Carlaw.
"Special taxes have a
habit of being called something else to fudge the fact that
they are just as much a tax as those on income or
consumption, or for accident insurance, the fire service or
anything else.
"Nor is there any binding assurance that
they will remain dedicated to their original purpose over
time. Sooner or later governments find irresistible reasons
to fiddle - petrol taxes are an example.
The real point is
the total quantity of all forms of taxation from central and
local government. This is not a time for this Government to
be considering more tax increases despite the pressures that
have contributed to the recently revealed spending
blowout.
"The blunt fact is that New Zealand will be able
to afford a first world health system when the New Zealand
economy is growing and transforming sufficiently to provide
a first world income."
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