NZTU Congratulates New PM & Cautiously Welcomes New Minister of Finance

12 DECEMBER 2016

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union congratulates Bill English on his appointment to Prime Minister and welcomes comments by Steven Joyce over the weekend in relation to the prudent spending of taxpayers’ money.

Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director, Jordan Williams, says: “We look forward to working for taxpayers and with the new Prime Minister in delivering better value for money.”

In relation to the expected appointment of Steven Joyce as Minister of Finance, Mr Williams says, “Naturally our members are concerned that the appointment of Mr Joyce as the new Minister of Finance may lead to an even greater corporate welfare burden. But we will wait to judge.”

According to research by the Taxpayers’ Union corporate welfare currently costs more than $800 per NZ household per year.

“Notwithstanding those concerns, we welcome Mr Joyce’s acknowledgment on TNVZs Q&A yesterday that ‘the money that [politicians] get to spend comes from hard-working Kiwis’ and that MPs must always have this on their mind.”

“The Taxpayers’ Union hopes that next year’s budget reflects this sentiment by compensating New Zealanders for fiscal drag – stealth taxation caused by inflation.”

“Fiscal drag pushes New Zealand wage earners into paying more tax despite no increase in real income.”

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