New Zealand Taxpayers’
Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says, “National
rightly point out that fuel tax hikes have snatched nearly
$1.7 billion from motorists. However, the Party has only
said it will ditch the tax targeted at Aucklanders, which
makes up just a fraction of that revenue
grab.”
“Fuel tax is particularly nasty because it
disproportionately affects the poor, who commute longer
distances and drive older cars. Even outside Auckland, tax
makes up half the price of petrol and is a major factor in
the ballooning cost of living.
“National need to
commit to scrapping all of Labour’s fuel tax hikes. And if
this isn’t their position, they should explain why. If
they didn’t need this extra revenue when they were in
Government, why would they need it now?”
“The
media also need to be clearer in their reporting. Many New
Zealanders outside of Auckland will be under the impression
that National is promising to cut their fuel tax. As of
today, this just isn’t
true.”
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