"It's about time the myth of the digital divide was smashed" announced Libertarianz Spokeman for the Deregulation of Communications Scott Wilson today.

"New Zealanders have demonstrated time and time again that when they want new technology, they are willing to pay for it and they take up the challenge. This is obvious from the almost universal presence of video recorders in New Zealand homes, the 37% take up of Internet access and the 33% take up of pay TV in homes across the country. The high number of Sky dishes in Northland shows that there are not barriers to paying for technology when it delivers what they want."

"All of this is in spite of the Government taking its 12.5% cut of the sales of these services and goods through GST"

"The Government's own statistics demolish the myth of low rural access to the Internet with the lowest populated rural areas having the same rate of takeup as the national average. Even the lowest penetration regions like Gisborne and the West Coast manage around 1 in 4 households having a computer with access."

"The cliched rhetoric of digital "haves" and "have nots" implies that if people don't want a computer and Internet access that Nanny State knows what is good for them and they must have it. It is particularly patronising that this Labour/Alliance socialist government can't see that its dumbed down education system is a bigger cause of "information have nots" than a lack of access to high speed internet connections. It also implies people want the Internet for education, when most want it to email, chat, download music, games and porn and enjoy other entertainment".

"Libertarianz would abolish GST and abolish all programmes to taxvictim fund Internet access. This would significant reduce compliance costs for business and let all New Zealanders keep more of their money to spend on technology, alcohol or anything they want" concluded Wilson.

It's enough to make you vote Libertarianz!

ENDS

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