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Government More Interested in Tourists than Homelessness

"Project Palace" Shows Government More Interested in Tourist Accommodation than Kiwis Sleeping in Cars

24 MAY 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Taxpayers’ Union is labelling Steven Joyce’s “Project Palace” (yes that is really what he is calling it) the National Party’s version of a planned economy. Taxpayers’ UnionExecutive Director, Jordan Williams, says:

“It appears Steven Joyce never got the memo that the Soviet Union failed. He is literally using taxpayer money to have officials pontificate on the precise number of hotels New Zealand needs and do the work of investors with business plans written by bureaucrats.”

“Does Mr Joyce also have production figures for steel, coal and corn as part of his USSR-style list of economic goals?”

“While the Government pours corporate welfare and central planning into international tourist accommodation, Mr Joyce’s party has completely failed to slash the regulatory red tape which has resulted in New Zealanders being forced to sleep in their cars. No wonder the Labour Party is questioning this Government’s priorities.”

Last week the Taxpayers’ Union launched a petition calling on the Government to immediately adopt the Labour Party’s policy to abolish Auckland Council’s urban boundary. Last year the group also joined others in exposing Auckland’s regulatory “Taniwha Tax” which has also forced up the cost of housing.

ENDS


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