Monday 8 Jul 2002

Labour's Science and Technology policies announced today will continue to hamstring businesses with red tape and high taxes while embracing Jim Anderton's vision of "picking the winners", ACT Science and Technology Spokesman MP Ken Shirley said today.

"Businesses are bypassing New Zealand and conducting their research overseas, where there's less red tape, lower taxes and a more business-friendly Government. Labour is doing nothing to bring research, jobs or money to New Zealand. For New Zealand to compete internationally, we need to have a lower company tax rate than our trading partners.

"The Government is devoting public funds to hand-picked research centres. Many of our research institutes will miss out, while Helen Clark's hand-picked "winners" get the lion's share of funding, irrespective of performance.

"The Government's pledge to "review" the taxation system to address impediments to research is farcical when Dr Michael Cullen has ruled out lowering our company tax rate, and making a real difference," Ken Shirley said.

Ends

© Scoop Media