ACT wants politicians to stop meddling in private property

“With the news about a pending sale of privately owned Lochinver Station to Shanghai Pengxin once again stirring anti-foreigner feeling, politicians must show respect for private property”, ACT’s Primary industry spokesman Don Nicolson says.

“Private property is a fundamental institution of a free and prosperous society. Politicians should not try to interfere with the voluntary sale of private property. If the Stevenson family choose to sell their land to Shanghai Pengxin, that should be no concern of the government’s.

“ACT isn’t concerned about the sale of private assets such as farms to anyone in particular because land is not mobile; farm employment that generates wage tax continues regardless of ownership; consumption of local inputs still occurs; and, hopefully, as a profitable business, even more tax and GST will be collected. Any owners must abide with our national rules.

“If a foreign individual or firm can pay more than any other bidder, then their investment in New Zealand is welcome. That’s how markets should work. ACT believes it is the government’s job to defend property rights, not to undermine them”, Nicolson concludes

ENDS

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