Annabel Young

Opposition Revenue Spokesperson

10 April 2000

Want to talk straight on tax? Go to http://www.tax.org.nz

If you're having taxing times, go to www.tax.org.nz and you'll find a place to lodge your complaint and express your views, Opposition Revenue spokesperson Annabel Young said today.

"National has set up the "Tax Think Tank" at www.tax.org.nz to help discuss what's going on with our taxes, and the challenges we face in the future.

"People are crying out for a simple, transparent system of taxes with low compliance costs.

"At the same time we face big questions in the future such as international borders becoming less rigid. We have to work out how for example to impose taxes when we trade through the internet. The irony is that we are using a web-site to discuss the changes that the internet will force on tax concepts.

"The Tax Think Tank is there to get people talking and debating. It is a step towards finding robust answers.

"As the tried and true line from Benjamin Franklin states "in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. Taxes will always be there and I am committed to thinking through the ways we collect tax and how we can design a robust tax system that will still work in 10 or 20 years time."

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