MEDIA RELEASE: Winter Energy Payment Is Universalism At Its Worst

14 DECEMBER 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

With the Budget Policy Statement indicating fiscal restraint, and the Government not signalling increases in revenue over and above nominal growth and fiscal drag, the Tax Working Group should be tasked to offer fiscally neutral solutions says the Taxpayers’ Union.
 
Jordan Williams, the Union’s Executive Director, says:
 
“We were pleasantly surprised, and welcomed, Grant Robertson’s public comments resulting from our calls prior to the election that any policy changes by the Tax Working Group could be fiscally neutral. Now that he’s in office Mr Robertson should task the Tax Working Group with finding ways to reduce existing taxes to compensate for the costs of any new taxes it suggests.”
 
“Today’s mini-budget is a signal to Kiwis that the Government does not intend to smack taxpayers with an expensive rejig of the tax system. A credible way to do this, would be to make sure the Tax Working Group understand this.”

ENDS