ASA rejects all complaints over Chris Hipkins’ CGT ‘money grab’ ad

The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming the Advertising Standards Authority’s rejection of all complaints about its AI-generated Chris Hipkins capital gains tax advertisement, saying the decision leaves Labour’s unfair taxation of inflation firmly in the spotlight.

The advertisement depicts an exaggerated, fictional Hipkins taking wallets and money from households to illustrate the effect of Labour’s proposed capital gains tax, which unfairly taxes inflation, not just profits.

Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says:

“Labour might dislike how we delivered the message, but the problem is the policy. Chris Hipkins wants to tax inflation, not just profits. That means taking a slice of Kiwis’ nest eggs even when they are no better off.”

“Labour lackeys bombarded the ASA with complaints. But as we expected, every complaint has been rejected.”

“If your investment rises ten percent while prices rise ten percent, you haven’t become any wealthier. Yet Labour would still send you a tax bill. Calling that ‘fairness’ doesn’t make it fair.”

The Board also found that the advertisement’s imagery was not misleading and that its exaggerated nature made clear it was a dramatisation, even without viewers recognising the use of AI.

“The fictional Hipkins was obvious satire. But the threat to taxpayers’ nest eggs is not.”

“Instead of complaining about an imaginary Hipkins taking wallets, Labour should explain why its actual policy would tax gains that exist only on paper.”