Give exporters a fair go

Media release 20 February 2004

Give exporters a fair go

Giving with one hand and taking with the other is a poor deal for exporters and an expensive way to recycle tax dollars, says Business NZ. Business NZ Chief Executive Simon Carlaw says the Finance Minister's planned assistance for exporters in this year's Budget is likely to be announced at the same time as a new tax is imposed on them.

"The tax on exporters is aimed at raising $20 million a year to pay for new border security measures required by the Government. This security is something that benefits every New Zealander as a public good, yet the cost is being loaded, unfairly, onto the critical export sector.

"Border security is the Government's job and it's cynical for the Government to load the cost of security onto exporters who are captive by the fact that they must use customs in order to trade.

"Exporters underpin the real economy. New Zealand's export performance continues to slip. The best help would be no new taxes rather than hand-outs via a Government agency."

ENDS

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