Don't Know, Don't Care, Says Labour
Wednesday 23 Jun 2004
Deborah Coddington -Press Releases
The Labour Government doesn't know and doesn't care how much the new Holidays Act provisions are costing the local
hospitality industry, ACT New Zealand Tourism Spokesman Deborah Coddington said today.
"Tourism Minister Mark Burton told motor camp operators in a speech this week, that increasing surcharges on public
holidays was `short-sighted' and would `send the wrong message to tourists'," Miss Coddington said.
"However, today in the House, Dr Cullen - on behalf of Mr Burton - admitted he had no information about how much it
cost tourism operators to cover increased staff costs.
"Dr Cullen's reply is typical of this union-driven, anti-business Government, whose MPs are completely out of touch
with hard-working, small business owners.
"ACT will support a Dr Brash-led government in immediately repealing these new punitive Holiday Act provisions, which
not only cripple business, but also do nothing to attract overseas tourists to spend money here, rather than somewhere
else in the world," Miss Coddington.
ENDS