Labour to take GST campaign to communities

Labour Leader Phil Goff today announced his MPs will travel the length of the country to campaign against John Key’s plans to increase GST to 15%.

“National did not campaign on a promise to lift GST at the last election, but Labour is going to campaign against it,” Phil Goff said.

“Labour’s two-week nationwide bus campaign will be held over the next Parliamentary recess to help force a National back down on the GST increase.

“We will be stopping in communities to show them just how unfair John Key’s plans to hike GST are.

“GST will hurt most middle to low income Kiwis. The Government’s promise is to just compensate people on middle incomes when the highest earners are hundreds of dollars better off each week through cutting the top tax rate. People know this is just a money-go-round and that they won’t benefit.

“But the real sting will be in National’s proposed income tax changes. The winners will be the highest earners, the losers will be those on middle and low incomes.

“Labour’s bus campaign will kick off from Auckland and stop in on communities down to Dunedin. We also plan to get to communities which are not on the campaign route.

“A small number of MPs will travel on each leg and will be touching base with community groups such as budgeting services, Grey Power, and Citizens’ Advice Bureaus to gauge the impact of the planned hike in GST.”

Phil Goff said no one voted for an increase to GST.

“No one voted for paying more for milk, bread, rates, or school shoes,” Phil Goff said.

“The GST increase is very unpopular and it’s Labour's job to represent those who don't want it to happen. This is about giving New Zealanders a say.

“The increase will hurt middle and low income families already struggling to make ends meet.

“National's tax shuffle won't grow the economy - it is unfair and won't deliver for families.”

ENDS

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