“If Jim Anderton got his way, New Zealand families would be
lumped with significant petrol price increases. Prices for
petrol and other everyday goods would increase at least 5%
if Alliance’s crazy tariff policy was implemented,” said
Ilam MP Gerry Brownlee today.
Mr Brownlee’s comments
follow Shell New Zealand’s announcement that petrol will
increase three cents a litre from tonight. Shell said
continued pressure on international oil prices forced the
increase.
“Mr Anderton wouldn’t be satisfied with
Labour’s costly plan of freezing tariffs for five years. He
would muster all his bullying skills to force a Labour-led
Government to implement Alliance’s 5% tariff on all goods
and services, except those imported from Australia. This
would prove disastrous!”
Recent independent research found
that reducing tariffs in just four sectors – cars, household
appliances, clothing and footwear – has given a three-person
New Zealand household an extra $22 per week. By 2010, the
gains could be as high as $42 per week.
“Under Anderton,
the scrapping of the Tariff (Zero Duty) Amendment Act will
see the cost of living for families soar and jobs evaporate,
as businesses lose competitiveness. National is
progressively dismantling import tariffs because they act as
a tax on businesses and families.”
Mr Brownlee said
National wants to see petrol prices as low as possible, and
sees competition as a way to ensure this happens.
“National is committed to eliminating all import tariffs
and maintaining competition within the petrol industry. This
will keep prices to a minimum and improve the cost of living
for all New Zealand families.”
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