Labour’s Gaming Subsidies Level Up Wasteful Spending

The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming Labour’s plan to expand taxpayer subsidies for the video-game industry, warning the current Game Development Sector Rebate is already unnecessary corporate welfare.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Rhys Hurley, said:

“This is déjà vu. We’ve already seen millions funnelled into the gaming sector through the Centre of Digital Excellence (CODE) and rebate scheme, with next to no public transparency and questionable results. Why double down on a failed policy?”

“If Labour are actually serious about jobs and growth, writing bigger and bigger cheques to high-performing overseas developers already turning over millions won’t cut it."

"New Zealand has some of the highest corporate tax rates in the world; that’s why firms can’t succeed here.”

“Labour want to keep taking money from small businesses who could stand on their own two feet and use it to prop up pet firms who can’t. This is corporate welfare in high-definition.”