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Labour Can’t Get Its Story Straight On Tax

Labour is sending completely mixed signals on its plans to increase taxes on Kiwis, with senior MPs this morning offering contradictory positions, senior National MP Simeon Brown says.

“Kiwis already know Labour can’t be trusted on tax and today’s confusion shows exactly why,” Mr Brown says.

Labour’s campaign chair Kieran McAnulty definitively told Breakfast that, aside from a capital gains tax, there would be “no other tax increases under a Labour-led government”.

But Labour’s Revenue spokesperson Deborah Russell told The Post that Labour would “of course have more tax policy” than just a capital gains tax.

Adding to the uncertainty, when asked repeatedly by Newstalk ZB whether the proposed capital gains tax went far enough, Ms Russell could only say she was “comfortable with it.”

“So, which is it? More taxes on Kiwis or not?

“If Mr McAnulty is right, has Labour ruled out changes to the bright-line test, scrapping interest deductibility, or introducing a digital services tax? And if so, how will they fund their $13 billion pay equity commitment?

“If Ms Russell is right, how far is Labour prepared to go? How many more taxes could Kiwis expect?

“And where is Labour’s Finance spokesperson in all of this, or have the reins already been handed to Craig Renney?

“There are clearly deep divisions within Labour when it comes to tax policy. At a time of economic uncertainty, Kiwis deserve straight answers and Chris Hipkins needs to come clean on his tax plans.

“Now more than ever, New Zealand needs stable and responsible economic management. Piling on several new taxes that target households and businesses will risk New Zealand’s economic recovery.”

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