Anti-business National

The National Party has the most anti-business platform of any party going into this year's election, Progressive Party leader Jim Anderton says, following John Key's statement in his latest newsletter that he wants to increase taxes on innovation and research and development.

National MP Paul Hutchison told a forum in the Waikato yesterday that National wanted to pay for increased spending at CRIs by taking the money away from private businesses, by cutting the research and development tax credit.

John Key's newsletter trumpets the largest ever increase in tax on innovation: "National will also reduce the size of the recently introduced R&D tax credit." [Key Notes No. 39]

Jim Anderton says National's policy is anti-business.

"National is the only party going into the election this year promising to increase taxes on business. In fact, it appears to be the only party promising tax increases.

"The only reason National has given for increasing taxes on innovation is that too many businesses are doing it!

"New Zealand needs more research and development, not less.

"I am hoping to hear the views of business about National's express policy to take research and development money away from private businesses to pay for research and development by the CRIs."

ENDS

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