Jordan Williams, a spokesman for the Auckland
Ratepayers’ Alliance and its nationwide sister group
the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is slamming
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff for his comments today that John
Tamihere would need the Government’s support to scrap the
regional fuel tax.
Mr Williams, a lawyer,
says, “The Auckland fuel tax does not require a change in
legislation in order to be scrapped. All the law requires
for the regional fuel tax to be implemented, amended, or
removed is a consultative process followed by a rubber stamp
from the Minister.”
“Phil Goff’s suggestion
that the Government would block an attempt to scrap the tax
is alarming and undemocratic. Why is he asking Wellington to
butt into Auckland local body politics?”
“If Auckland
ratepayers choose to elect a mayoral candidate committed to
scrapping the regional fuel tax, is Goff seriously saying
that Wellington would stand in the way?”
“This
is a disgraceful attempt to seed doubt in the democratic
process. The Government must rebuke Goff now, lest it be
complicit in his attack on local
democracy.”
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