Tax cuts – how will you spend yours?

MEDIA RELEASE – 19 September 2008

Social Justice Commissioner of the Anglican Church

Countdown to Tax cuts – how will you spend yours?

With Tax cuts due to take effect in 12 days time a new website has been launched that poses this simple challenge: How will you spend your Tax cut?

The website – www.giveitup.org.nz – is all about prompting people to think about the many uses an extra dollar or two can be put to, says its initial coordinator Dr Anthony Dancer, Social Justice Commissioner.

"The idea behind 'Give It Up' is to contrast the view that Tax cuts are a temporary windfall to line our individual pockets, with the view that this extra money could be put towards making the world a better place through the individual or collective choices we make," says Dr Dancer.

"We know from surveys that the public response to Tax cuts is often more ambivalent than is seriously considered. People who may already be living a comfortable lifestyle are often in two minds about the trade-off between the private benefit of a Tax cut and the longer-term need for public funding to support our nation's overall infrastructure".

"The 'Give It Up' website is intended for people who might be attracted to a wider range of choices about how they might spend some of the money they receive from Tax cuts", says Dr Dancer.

"It is designed to be a collecting point for stories from those people for whom receiving an extra $60 a month isn't a matter of life and death, and who might therefore consider undertaking some wealth redistribution of their own – be that to some international cause or a local charity or for some completely different way to make a difference."

"With discretion comes responsibility. The underlying point of the 'Give It Up' message is to celebrate and support the generous spirit that's alive and well amongst us. Money is easily dissipated but goodwill and good deeds are the best kind of 'money in the bank'. For those who can afford it, let's make these Tax cuts go a long way!".

ends

© Scoop Media