Cullen Should Cut Taxes, Not Just Talk About It
Thursday 23 Jan 2003 Rodney Hide Press Releases -- Taxation
ACT New Zealand Finance Spokesman Rodney Hide today criticised Finance Minister Dr Michael Cullen for talking about
cutting taxes instead of just getting on and cutting them.
"Dr Cullen has endlessly talked about cutting taxes but never has.
"The only thing Dr Cullen has ever done is put taxes up - most notably in increasing the top rate of personal tax from
33 cents to 39 cents in the dollar.
"In September 1999 Dr Cullen said that Labour "would look at lowering business tax if elected" (Evening Post 22
September 1999). He told the Asia Society in Hong Kong in April 2000 that the "Government wanted to reduce the 33 per
cent company tax rate when it could afford to" (The Press 13 April 2000). Last December he declared that low to middle
income families could look forward to tax cuts in 2004 (New Zealand Herald 20 December 2002)
"And now today he says he is considering changing tax rules to allow faster depreciation of plant and equipment as a
spur to business investment (New Zealand Herald 23 January 2003).
"Dr Cullen should drop his dopey state-run pension scheme and give every business and working person immediate tax
relief. That would have a real effect on the economy. His endless empty promises just serve to undermine his
credibility," concluded Rodney Hide.
ENDS
For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at
act@parliament.govt.nz.