Exporters Bear Brunt Of New Tax Initatives – Unwise And Unfair

“Exporters are willing to pay some of the costs of new border security measures, but not all”, Brent Catchpole New Zealand First biosecurity spokesman told Parliament this week during the debate about the Border Security Bill currently before the House.

Mr Catchpole said that it was unfair for 80 percent of new costs to have to be met by exporters.”

“Exporters already have huge set up costs,” he said. “They have to comply with the electronic upgrades. Computers and software has to be upgraded. There are a lot of extra costs as well – it is just another tax.”

Mr Catchpole expressed regret that the responsible Minister seemed so unwilling to accept that measures, which protected New Zealand’s security and contributed to the whole nation’s economic well being were measures which needed to be paid for by all New Zealanders.

“To expect our export earners to foot most of the costs for such measures is unfair and unwise,” concluded Mr Catchpole.

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