Another day, another Labour Party tax

28 AUGUST 2017 - The Labour Party’s tally of taxes rises to four today, following their announcement of a $25 ‘tourist tax’ on international visitors. The Taxpayers’ Union is questioning where the Labour Party will stop when it comes to taking money out of people’s pockets, particularly given the surpluses forecast in the coming years.

Taxpayers’ Union Researcher Matthew Rhodes says, “Increased tourist numbers means a better economy and a larger tax take on consumption and economic activity. We want to be welcoming tourists to our country with open arms, not punishing them with an extra tax. The tourist tax punishes the very people who already contribute $12.9 billion to our GDP.”

“When will the Labour Party recognise that the solution to improving services is not always by taking money out of people’s pockets? Last week’s PREFU shows the Government books are in the best shape they have been in close to a decade.”

“With the possibility of four new taxes - a capital gains tax, water tax, regional fuel taxes, and now the tourist tax, we call on Ms Ardern, and Labour’s Finance Spokesperson Grant Robertson, to commit to reducing existing taxes to compensate for any new taxes that are introduced. Without that promise, the assurances that taxes will not spike under Labour are hollow.”

ENDS

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