Media statement
For immediate release
Thursday, 11 October 2007

Labour and National talk on tax cuts “hollow”

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne says the current scrap between Labour and National on tax cuts show both are hollow men on the issue.

“Neither has a record to be proud of.

“National last cut personal taxes in 1996, when in coalition with United, only to reverse most of them the following year because of its deal with New Zealand First.

“National also voted against UnitedFuture’s business tax cuts announced in this year’s Budget, which making its current lament that tax cuts are overdue look a little pathetic,” he says.

Mr Dunne says Labour’s record is no better.

“The first thing Labour did when coming to office in 1999 was put taxes up.

“The $3.4 million business tax reduction package introduced in this year’s Budget was a direct result of a confidence and supply agreement commitment to UnitedFuture.

“Indeed, the only party that has consistently called for tax cuts and achieved these when in a position to do so has been UnitedFuture – both in 1996 and again this year,” he says.

Mr Dunne says UnitedFuture believes personal tax reductions are now overdue, and that there is scope for these to be included in next year’s Budget.

“The Business Tax Review documents made it clear that reductions in the business tax rate would have implications for the personal tax system, and it is now timely to address those,” he says.

Ends

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