Use Surplus To Boost Exports Says Peters

New Zealand First has urged the Government to use some of the surpluses outlined in the latest fiscal statement to provide incentives to exporters to boost growth and employment.

Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters said with the kiwi dollar hurting exporters at its current levels it should be time for the Government to start realising that there are measures available to provide incentives for growth in our export industries.

“The economy can only grow through increasing exports. We have long advocated a tax abatement scheme which would reduce the tax rate on new export profits to 20 percent to ensure that exporting opportunities and innovation are not lost.

“It is nonsense for the Finance Minister to describe forecast growth of three perecnt as robust. Anything less than four percent is simply inadequate.

“As well, the claim of low unemployment is something of a myth as there are some areas in New Zealand with very high unemployment rates, disguised by the way these figures are calculated.

“We are also getting artificial growth through massive immigration, which merely increases consumerism and interest rates rather than contributes to sustainable economic growth.”

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