Don Brash National Party Leader

13 July 2005

Brash will scrap carbon tax, save fishing industry $20m

National Party Leader Don Brash says National's pledge to repeal Labour's carbon tax will save the fishing industry $20 million per year.

He was speaking to a group of inshore fishermen in Nelson this afternoon.

"The competitiveness of New Zealand's fishing industry will be completely undermined by a $20 million tax bill that other countries' fishing industries do not need to pay," says Dr Brash.

"With 90% of seafood exported, New Zealand must remain competitive on the international market. National will repeal Labour's 4c per litre carbon tax and ensure our industry can compete with the best in the world.

"Labour is even going to impose the tax on New Zealand boats fishing in international waters. This sends a clear message that Labour would rather see lucrative species like Tuna caught by foreign boats.

"The carbon tax targets the fishing industry in that it applies to a fishing boat en route to Fiji, but not an aircraft. That makes absolutely no sense."

The cost to the fishing industry is not limited to owners of fishing boats, but will also impact significantly on transportation and processing costs.

Dr Brash says the carbon tax is a recipe for exporting jobs both in catching and processing fish, and it will hit fishing centres, like Nelson, particularly hard.

"National wants to export fish, not jobs. That is why we will scrap Labour's carbon tax."

ENDS

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