Alliance says Labour's new GST policy a "wilted vegetable"

"Timid" is how Alliance Party co leader Kay Murray describes Labour's announcement that they will remove GST from fresh fruit and vegetables.

She says that despite the big promises, Labour keeps on failing to propose real and major differences to National's attacks on low and middle income families.

Their latest policy announcement is a "wilted vegetable" that would achieve little.

"This may be great news for vegans but not so great for people who include meat and dairy products in their diets. Meat, cheese, milk and bread are expensive items on most families grocery list."

GST needs to be removed from them as well to make decent food affordable for all New Zealanders.

"This plan is not so good for harried parents who rely on frozen and canned fruit and vegetables for time saving and because the kids will eat them. Frozen and canned fruit and vegetables have been proven in many cases to be just as nutritious as fresh."

The Alliance Party says Labour should stop messing around with half measures and remove GST on all food.

She says it seems to have been conveniently forgotten that the regressive GST tax which hits low and middle income earners hard, was introduced by a Labour Government.

National's GST hike will hurt New Zealand families, but the Labour policy would make little difference overall.

"Does Labour intends to reduce GST back to 12.5% for everything other than fresh fruit and vegetables? Or are they intending to leave it at 15%?"

Rent, power and rates are also essential items and carve a big chunk out of most people's income, says Ms Murray.

The Alliance Party is backing the Tax Justice campaign which is seeking to remove GST off all food and instead tax financial speculation.

The Alliance Party has a progressive tax plan that would phase out GST altogether.

ENDS

© Scoop Media