Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Another broken promise, Winston Peters has had his day

“Tomorrow’s tobacco tax hike represents yet another betrayal of NZ First supporters by the Party’s leader and shows Winston Peters has had his day”, according to ACT Leader David Seymour.

“In July 2017, less than two months before the last election, Peters said: ‘The first thing we’re gonna do is make sure cigarettes are not massively overtaxed like that and bring them back to reasonable value.’

“But by tomorrow, Kiwis will have faced three 10 percent tax increases under a government propped up by NZ First.

“With an election just around the corner, Peters now claims that NZ First will ‘agree to disagree’ with the Government’s tobacco tax hikes, but this does nothing to prevent tomorrow’s increase from coming into effect.

“Has Peters forgotten that he’s the Deputy Prime Minister? Saying he doesn’t like the tax, but failing to do anything about it, is nothing more than virtue signalling.

“At the last election Peters had dozens bottom lines, most of which disappeared into the ether as soon as he became Deputy Prime Minister.

“Peters has taken voters for granted countless times. He’s had his day.

“In April, he betrayed the firearms community by voting for the rushed Arms Amendment Bill. He’s once again forgotten the promises he made to his supporters by failing to repeal a punishing tax on New Zealanders.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“Tobacco tax costs Kiwis about $2 billion each year, but it hasn’t significantly reduced smoking rates. It has, however, encouraged hundreds of brutal attacks on and robberies of small retailers around the country.

The latest round of tax increases will also take about $178 million out of the pockets of the poorest New Zealanders – about $1000 more per smoker, per year – preventing them from buying basics like food and clothes.

“Smokers already pay more in tax than they cost the rest of the community.

“Politicians’ grand government scheme to eliminate smoking altogether – Smokefree 2025 – has created a range of unintended consequences. Despite commitments to reduce the cost of living and crime rates, politicians like Peters remain addicted to tobacco tax revenue and, as a result, have made both worse.

“The one innovation that could have a serious impact on smoking rates is vaping, but Labour plans to ban vaping flavours and advertising. The coming crackdown on the single most effective smoking cessation tool available may be Labour’s stupidest policy yet.”


© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.