United New Zealand leader, Hon Peter Dunne, says that the Government’s rushed legislation to increase the rate of tobacco taxation effectively tears up the Party’s pre-election pledge card.

“Before the election Labour promised that its only tax increase would be the pernicious 6 cents in the dollar increase it imposed on high income earners straight after the election.”

“Today’s decision completely breaches that commitment, and shows Labour cannot be trusted on tax issues.”

“Its word counts for nothing any more.”

“Last week, Dr Cullen sanctimoniously extolled the virtues of sanctity of contract when it came to the Government’s decisions regarding West Coast logging.”

“Today, he totally overlooks that with regard to tobacco taxation.”

“The Government’s behaviour is the most gross form of unctuous hypocrisy imaginable,” he says.

ENDS

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