David Carter National Finance Spokesperson

14 June 2002

You can believe Labour- Yeah right

Labours pledge of no more income tax increases has a hollow ring to it especially to those on low and middle incomes who are reeling under the increased burden of higher excise and petrol taxes, says National's Finance spokesperson David Carter.

"Labour might promise no more increase in taxes but the evidence is clear, we get tax increases by stealth such as the increase in petrol tax.

"Michael Cullen was only able to keep within his fiscal cap by raising taxes to offset spending of 7 billion dollars. What really matters is that those tax increases weren't on the pledge card.

"Labour's record is they can't be trusted on tax, especially when the same pledge card is going to promise lots more spending. Increased spending pressures and the need to find 2 billion dollars a year for the Cullen fund mean this is a promise that will inevitably be broken.

"Mind you the biggest question of all is who is going to sign the pledge card this time," asks David Carter.

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