Media Release ACT Party 11 September 2014 ImmediateRelease

Dr Jamie Whyte ACT Leader

The Conservative Party’s policy-on-the-hoof habit has reached full gallop

"The Conservative Party has a tax policy with no tax rate. Christine Rankin announced to a crowd of over 100 that she would pay for a $20,000 tax free threshold by raising $4 billion by taxing alcohol." said ACT leader Jamie Whyte

"Confronted with the facts that this would be a 600 per cent increase in alcohol taxes, doubling the price of an average bottle of wine, her leader now denies this was the policy.

"Who is correct? The leader or the candidate?

"Mr Craig now says that the tax free threshold would be phased in over time, starting at $5,000. Is this a new announcement? Where are the costings for this? Treasury figures show it would require $2 billion in spending reductions, without allowing for increased avoidance behaviour (http://www.treasury.govt.nz/government/revenue/estimatesrevenueeffects/personal)

"Mr Craig says that he would save money by reducing the number of MPs and public servants.

"If every Member of Parliament costs one million dollars per year, reducing the size of parliament to 99 MPs would save $21 million.

"Where will the rest come from? What will Mr Craig make up next?

"He can run but he can’t hide. Political parties require more than money, they must have actual costed policies.

"Craig must explain how he would fund a $20,000 tax free threshold or abandon the policy." said Jamie Whyte

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