Hon Dr Michael Cullen
Finance Minister
20 August 2008 Media Statement
New Zealanders do understand, Mr Key
Finance Minister Michael Cullen rejected John Key’s claim today that New Zealanders do not understand the serious
negative impact of borrowing for tax cuts.
On television this morning Mr Key was asked why he thought a majority of New Zealanders oppose National’s policy to
increase Crown debt levels. In response, he said: “I don’t think they understand actually what's happening here.”
“John Key seriously underestimates the intelligence of New Zealanders,” Dr Cullen said.
“They understand that National’s proposal to get out the begging bowl overseas and borrow more money so they can deliver
additional tax cuts is credit card economics.
“The bill for National’s election bribes would be passed on to our children to pay back, with hundreds of millions of
dollars of extra interest bills for all of us in the meantime.
“If Mr Key is so concerned that New Zealanders do not understand his true intentions, perhaps he could facilitate their
understanding by releasing the background papers he claims are sitting behind the one page policy announcements his
Party has made in recent weeks.”
ENDS