Import News from the Importers Institute:
Don't Vote Labour
The Government has prohibited the importation of older used cars, in response to lobbying by new car importers. This
will result in substantial price increases at the lower end of the market.
In the Eighties, governments decided to allow imports of used cars. This had an immediate effect. Cars became more
affordable overnight. The fleet became newer, more fuel efficient and much safer. New car importers had to sharpen their
pencils, as they had to face competition from near-new used imports, made to higher specifications.
Ever since then, the new car importers have been trying to get back to the good old days. Successive governments had no
difficulty in dismissing their patently self-interested calls for restrictions on used imports.
Now, they finally found a way. They appealed to the current government to impose restrictions in the name of the
environment. There is no amount of economic damage that this government will not contemplate, if it is in the name of
'saving the planet'.
The proposal is to prohibit the importation of Japanese used cars made before 1998. They amount to more than half of all
used imports. The prohibition is to be made under the guise of reducing vehicle emissions. But is it? Look at this
Cabinet paper:
The Cabinet "noted that controls that limit the age of the vehicles entering the New Zealand fleet are unlikely, on
their own, to lead to improved air quality in the short term, nor will they lead directly to a younger vehicle fleet, as
it is likely that people will retain and use their existing vehicles for longer rather than purchase newer, more
expensive vehicles built to a higher standard. [....] The impact of controls that limit the age of vehicles [...] is
expected to range from a 0.5% reduction in emissions to an increase in emissions of 2.5%, depending upon the response of
vehicle buyers and importers to the controls."
So, the politicians were told that agreeing to restrict the import of older cars will probably result to a return to the
old days, when poorer New Zealanders kept on driving dangerous rust buckets for years on end, as they could not afford
the high prices of new cars. What is more risible, is that the politicians acknowledge that restricting imports may
actually result in an INCREASE in emissions. But, as it is all done in the name of 'saving the planet', our current crop
of politicians had no hesitation in agreeing to the proposal.
This is, quite simply, bad government. It is not the first time that this gullible Minister, Ms Judith Tizard, made a
stupid decision in response to self-interested lobbying. In 2003, this same Minister decided to force New Zealanders to
wait up to nine months before seeing new films, to protect the interests of film distributors keen on using cheaper
second-hand film reels.
We say that a government that makes decisions like this against advice and plain common sense does not deserve to
govern. That is why the Importers Institute says, Don't Vote Labour! The Electoral Finance Bill, if passed as expected
later this week, will prohibit us from saying this next year. So, please save this email and read it again just before
the next election.
ENDS