19 August 2009
Media Statement

Farmers to pay for Auckland roads

Farmers will be paying more for Auckland roads because of National’s decision to replace a regional fuel tax with a general increase in petrol tax, Opposition agriculture spokesperson Jim Anderton says.

“The roads are still regional, but now the bill is national.

“There aren’t many farms in Auckland. But farmers will be getting the bill for Auckland roads.

“When we had a regional tax, a tunnel under Auckland would have been paid by Auckland motorists. Now they have axed the tunnel, and sent the bill to farmers and others outside Auckland. Everyone loses.

“Fuel costs are an important input cost for farmers. When petrol tax goes up, their input costs go up.

“It can be fair to charge someone more when they get more of the benefit. But farmers and others in rural communities get less benefit from new Auckland roads than Aucklanders do,” Jim Anderton said.

ENDS

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