Gavan Herlihy National Agriculture Spokesperson
14 March 2002
Farmers told to get in early to avoid RUC price hike
"Farmers should do all they can to minimise the effects of the Government's devious ratcheting-up of road user charges
by more than 30 per cent," says National's Agriculture spokesman Gavan Herlihy.
"This is just another sneaky tax increase that penalises the productive sector, which this Government is becoming
infamous for.
"It is totally arrogant for the Labour/Alliance government to expect farmers and rural folk around the country to pay
for Auckland's' transport problems and loopy Green Party ideas such as cycleways and 'teach yourself how to walk'
programmes."
Mr Herlihy, speaking in today's debate in Parliament, says because the RUC price hike doesn't come in to effect until
April 1, farmers should buy up now to reduce the impact of this unjust increase in diesel price.
"They should also heed Federated Farmers' good advice and ensure they apply for refunds on any excise they pay for
petrol used off road - such as for their farm utes and ATVs," Gavan Herlihy added.
Ends