THE FAMILY PARTY

www.thefamilyparty.org.nz

 PRESS STATEMENT FOR RELEASE

 Cut GST: Where there’s a will there’s a way

17 June 08. The Family Party says Government’s continued refusal to cut GST on petrol is a cop-out and reflective of an unmotivated, tired Government. 

Family Party leader Richard Lewis says despite the Finance Minister having already acknowledged that such a move would offer immediate relief to families1 the Labour-led Government is “simply too tired and unmotivated to make it happen.”

“It’s just not good enough that Government won’t reprioritise its spending in order to provide much needed relief for New Zealand families. The same old rhetoric that they’d have to cut social services is garbage. It’s a matter of priorities – a Government that genuine cared about the wellbeing of families would be motivated to make it happen. Where there’s a will – there’s a way,” says Mr Lewis.

The move would save about 6c a litre and the Auckland Chamber of Commerce has said the Government has scored a $70 million windfall as petrol prices increased by about 29 per cent over the past two years.

Mr Lewis says when the debate is understood in the context of the massive costs of core bureaucracy, which under Labour has ballooned from 19,500 personnel in 1999 to 44,500 today, “the obvious place to look at cost-cutting starts in Wellington.”

At its conference a month ago, the Family Party called on Government to remove GST off basic food groups (fruit and vegetables), infant and elderly necessities, household energy, rates and the excise duty on fuel.

“The benefits of such measures would be felt across the board and provide much needed relief for middle to low income families and beneficiaries,” he added.

ENDS

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