17 August 2006

Campaign of Deceit Over Rating Cap Bill

A number of parties are indulging in campaigns of deceit in relation to a rating cap bill currently before Parliament says New Zealand First Local Government spokesperson Hon Brian Donnelly.

His comments come in the wake of campaigns launched by various groups presenting the rating cap bill as a solution to the problem of increasing rates charges, when in actual fact these groups know that the bill provides nothing of the sort.

“The bill fails to deal with the real issues of concern to ratepayers up and down the country,” said Mr Donnelly.

“Those facing hefty rates rises because of escalating property prices would continue to do so. The campaigners, however, would have us believe that the problem would go away if we were to support this bill to Select Committee.

“These people are building up false hopes for hard up ratepayers looking for a long term solution to the problem. Any Select Committee consideration would be restricted to the issues relating to the bill which is, even by the admission of its sponsor, very narrowly focussed. Beyond any Committee consideration, it is clear that the likes of National would vote the bill down during later readings in any case.

“The parties currently engaging in their campaigns of deceit should instead join New Zealand First’s call for a long term solution to this problem. Only a wide-ranging, first-principles commission of inquiry into how and why rates are levied will solve this problem once and for all. Let’s end the deception and political expediency surrounding this issue and work towards a genuine solution,” concluded Mr Donnelly.

ENDS

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