NEW REPORT: Labour Coalition would put family farms in the firing line
The Taxpayers’ Union has launched its Save the Family Farm campaign at National Fieldays, calling on Labour and its likely coalition partners to rule out new taxes on family farms and protect the future of rural New Zealand.
The campaign is backed by a new report, Save the Family Farm: How a Labour coalition would end Family Farming, which warns that a Labour-Greens-Te Pāti Māori Coalition would put farming families in the firing line.
Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:
“Family farms are the backbone of rural New Zealand. They support contractors, local businesses, suppliers, schools, and entire communities. But under a Labour-led coalition, productive land would become a tax target.”
“Labour is campaigning on a capital gains tax and opposing rates caps, while relying on coalition partners who support wealth taxes, trust taxes, and even death taxes."
“The Greens’ wealth tax would hit the average dairy farm with a bill of $68,043 a year, and the average sheep and beef farm with $131,610 a year.”
“The Greens’ proposed death tax would be even worse, triggering bills of $1.23 million for the average dairy farm and $2.07 million for the average sheep and beef farm.”
“These farms may be worth millions on paper, but that money is tied up in land, stock, sheds, and machinery. A tax bill like that means more debt, selling land, or losing the farm altogether.”
“The last Labour Government imposed the Ute Tax, backed freshwater regulations that loaded farmers with compliance costs, and pushed Three Waters despite widespread opposition from rural New Zealand.”
“As it stands, farmers cannot afford to bet the family farm on Labour. That is why we are calling on Labour and their coalition partners to rule out any taxes on family farms.”
The Save the Family Farm petition can be signed at SaveTheFamilyFarm.nz.
Save the Family Farm: How a Labour coalition would end Family Farming is available at https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/save_the_family_farm_report.