For immediate release
20 May 2010

We needed Robin Hood budget, but got Sherriff of Nottingham instead

Bank workers union Finsec says that with this budget, the National Government has flipped the Robin Hood story and are taking from the poor to give to the rich.

“With international calls growing for a “Robin Hood” tax (a small extra tax on banks), and an urgent need to help ordinary Kiwis who are suffering as a result of the recession, the Government has got this budget badly wrong,” said Finsec General Secretary Andrew Casidy. “Yes, there are across the board tax cuts – but the biggest cuts are being delivered to those on the highest incomes. They are simply unfair.”

“Our members see many families who are struggling to keep up with their day to day expenses even without a GST increase,” said Casidy. “National’s tax cuts favouring large corporates and high income earners will simply increase the divide between rich and poor in this country and make things even more unequal, which will be bad for everyone.”

“We need government to invest in jobs and in the social services that will help our most vulnerable through tough times. Instead, the wealthiest New Zealanders will benefit the most from today’s tax cuts – the very people who can best afford to contribute more to a fairer society.”

ENDS

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