No excuse for an election-year deficit
MEDIA RELEASE
No excuse for an election-year deficit -Taxpayers’ Union
11 DECEMBER 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Responding to the Minister of
Finance’s Half
Year Economic and Fiscal Update, which
includes a $900 million deficit for the next financial
year, New Zealand Taxpayers’
Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke
says:
“At at time of high commodity
prices and a record-high tax take, there is no excuse for
the Government to run up a deficit, even a temporary
one.”
“Conspicuously choosing an election year to dip into the red suggests the focus of this spending will be on winning votes, rather than addressing genuine needs. Some New Zealanders – perhaps in politically significant electorates – will benefit, but the typical taxpayer who funds this election year spend-up can be forgiven for a nervous gulp.”
ENDS