Wednesday, September 19 2001
The New Zealand Customs Service should avoid using its draconian powers to prosecute exporters for not filling out their
forms correctly, ACT Industry and Regional Spokesman Owen Jennings said today.
"Our country needs exports desperately. What we don't need is bureaucrats demanding compliance, with threats of $5000
fines.
"Information gathering is important - but exporters already face a barrage of compliance costs that are having a
detrimental effect on business performance.
"Despite regular promises, the Labour Alliance Government seems unwilling or unable to check the growing frustration of
businesses over compliance costs.
"Having a Government agency making heavy threats over a few exporters running late with their form-filling is an
unnecessary addition to an already unsatisfactory compliance cost environment," Owen Jennings said.
Ends