Brian Connell supports fewer public services in Rakaia

Labour Candidate for Rakaia, Tony Milne, is calling Brian Connell’s suggested flat tax of 20% extreme and, if it ever happened, deeply damaging to people in Rakaia.

“For well paid people like Brian a 20% flat tax would mean an extra $300 per week. For people on an average wage it would make very little difference to their incomes. But it would be disastrous for most New Zealanders. It would mean $5.5 Billion, or $1 in every $8, less to spend on health, education, policing and economic development,” Tony Milne said.

Tony Milne says that kind of policy would lead to massive cuts in public services in every electorate in New Zealand.

“Just in the Rakaia electorate that would 1/8 fewer operations at Ashburton Hospital. There would be 14 fewer police in the Ashburton and Selwyn districts and 45 fewer teachers at our local schools. Superannuitants could expect their weekly incomes to be cut under Brian’s flat tax policy. That’s a recipe for disaster,” Tony Milne said.

“At a time when the public are calling for more police and more spending in health and education, this suggestion is motivated by ideology ahead of what people really need. It shows that Brian Connell does not share the values and is out of touch with the concerns of his constituents,” Tony Milne said.

“I stand for an increase in core public services: more police, better health care, shorter waiting lists, investment in skills training and economic development, more teachers and better pay. That’s what I stand for as Labour’s Rakaia candidate and what I’ll work towards as Rakaia’s MP from the day after this year’s General Election,” Tony Milne said.

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