Media statement
For immediate release
Friday, 19 August 2005
Copeland condemns National’s retrograde tax move
United Future finance spokesman Gordon Copeland today condemned as a retrograde step the National Party’s plan to fund
its tax policies by dropping the link between the rate of inflation and tax brackets.
“For years, hard-working Kiwi wage earners have been punished when inflation pushed them into higher tax brackets, thus
eroding the value of their incomes.
“After three years of argument from United Future, Finance Minister Dr Michael Cullen gave way and in the last Budget
said the tax brackets would be indexed to the rate of inflation – an historic concession from any New Zealand
Government.
“Even though Dr Cullen delayed this policy change to 2007 when United Future said it should happen from next year, it
was still a highly significant move in favour of the New Zealand taxpayer.
“And now National wants to take a step backwards – that’s wrong, it’s retrograde and I call on John Key to scrap the
policy immediately,” said Mr Copeland.
ENDS