4 July 2002

"Voters should be asking Labour about its real intentions on tax rather than relying on pledge card spin," says National's Revenue Spokesperson Annabel Young.

Ms Young says New Zealanders have a right to know before the election if Labour has plans to introduce a health tax, increase petrol taxes or bring back death taxes.

"Helen Clark broke her 1999 election promise on tax. Her credit card promised 'No rise in income tax for the 95% of taxpayers earning under $60,000 a year.'

"Voters believed that this meant tax would only increase for 5% of New Zealanders. But now every New Zealander is paying more tax under Labour.

"More than 5% are paying higher income tax and everyone is caught by the hike in petrol tax - whether they use a car or catch a bus.

Annabel Young says excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco have also gone up under Helen Clark's command. "This election Labour has - once again - promised no tax increases. But we all know that we have to be wary of anything signed by Helen Clark her and voters should look at what the pledge card fails to promise. "Ms Clark has avoided mentioning new types of income tax such as her proposed health tax, which could be as much as an extra 8%. She makes no promise about keeping petrol tax at the same rate and she's made no promise to keep New Zealand free of death taxes. "New Zealanders should not let themselves be tricked by Labour for a second time. They need to examine what is missing from Helen Clark's tax promises," Ms Young says.

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