Dr Hon Lockwood Smith MP National Party Revenue Spokesman

17 February 2006

Dunne has the rug pulled out from under him

"It's clear that a gap is growing between Revenue Minister Peter Dunne and Finance Minister Michael Cullen on tax policy," says National Party Revenue Spokesman, Lockwood Smith.

The comment follows the increasingly divergent signals being sent by Helen Clark's Government.

"Who's got it right and which Minister should the public be listening to? Helen Clark needs to tell us which Minister she'll be taking advice from?

"Dr Cullen says there's a 'hole' in the books caused by the ditching of Labour's carbon tax, while Peter Dunne says 'it is not a question of filling holes'.

"Dr Cullen won't give any assurance the 'chewing gum' tax changes will go ahead, while Peter Dunne is saying he has 'worked from the start of this term of office that they were proceeding - nothing's happened to change that assumption'.

"Helen Clark's going to have to make a decision on this sooner rather than later. In the eyes of overtaxed New Zealanders, there is no time like the present," says Dr Smith.

ENDS

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