13 August 2004

Heartless

A bill to increase petrol tax and road user charges from next April is yet another example of the Government’s lack of consideration for motorists and the public, transport spokesperson Peter Brown says.

“And it announces this at the time when oil prices are trending up at a huge rate and are close to going through the roof. The Government is heartless,” Mr Brown said.

“This bill is simply an attempt by the Government to secure funding for land transport to the detriment of motorists. The Government continues to cynically manipulate road funding so it can siphon off millions in petrol taxes into the Crown account,” Mr Brown said.

"Motorists are already paying huge taxes and it is easily possible to manage an annual programme within the existing tax structures if all petrol tax was diverted to developing our transport infrastructure.

“New Zealand First has consistently argued that all the monies taken from the petrol motorist should go directly into upgrading and building more roads.

“Couple the oil price rises, this tax and the additional electricity charges New Zealanders are facing and you have to wonder how people are going to survive.

“Jim Anderton, who once called himself ‘the Minister of Lower Petrol Prices’, remains curiously silent as petrol prices hit a new high for New Zealanders, and despite the windfall tax rate, the Government still does nothing to stop motorists being hit by higher fuel costs. His silence is Golden,” Mr Brown concluded.

ENDS

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