"In a week when Helen Clark outlined her Government's 'vision' for New Zealand's future, there is mounting local and
international evidence that she is leading our economy up a blind alley," says National finance spokesman David Carter.
Mr Carter says most informed local commentators bagged Ms Clark's pre-hyped, innovation package as long on rhetoric and
short on detail.
"The Government's intent to implement anti-growth polices such as ratifying Kyoto ahead of our competitors, impose a GM
moratorium and make retrograde changes to OSH and holiday laws, as well as its failure to address complications in the
RMA or contemplate business tax reforms also drew well-founded criticism.
"Now, international experts KPMG's latest survey of corporate tax shows that New Zealand's rate of 33 per cent is higher
than the average in the OECD, EU, Latin American and Asian Pacific regions.
"In fact, last year, of the 30 OECD countries surveyed 12 - including Australia - actually cut their corporate tax
rates.
"Meanwhile, New South Wales Labor Premier Bob Carr has also joined the chorus of critics. He recently told the
Australian Financial Review that Australia must not replicate the performance of his New Zealand Labour Party
counterparts, because 'its strategy has turned New Zealand back from economic competitiveness'.
"Perhaps Helen Clark would do best to listen to the wise counsel of her Aussie Labour Party colleague, rather than risk
damaging the vital relationship of New Zealand's most important export market by being overly sensitive to criticism and
taking silly pot-shots at the Australian Government," Mr Carter added.
Ends