MEDIA RELEASE
TUREI NOW HAVING IT BOTH WAYS
17 FEBRUARY 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A sugar tax “would make a very little difference” according to Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei who spoke to NBR Radio today. She rebuted the Taxpayers’ Union pointing out her double standard in complaining about the closure of Dunedin’s Cadbury factory while at the same time
pushing for sugar taxes. The position is inconsistent with previous advocacy that a sugar tax should be implemented
because they are “effective" and "because we know we'll reduce consumption”.
“Ms Turei accused me of being ‘callus’ for pointing out the cold hard truth that anti-consumer, anti-business taxes such
as those on sugary products, lead to precisely the sort of distressing job losses she says she is concerned about,” says
Jordan Williams, the Executive Director of the Taxpayers’ Union. "She's trying to have it both ways."
“Ms Turia has called for taxpayer-funded subsidies, or corporate welfare, to keep manufacturers operating in the
regions. Maybe she isn’t aware that in 2007 New Zealand Trade & Enterprise paid a $2 million grant to Cadbury under the ‘Strategic Investment Fund’. Clearly, it didn’t work.”
“Instead of responding to the economic issue Ms Turei reaches for the personal smear lines. That says it all really.”
Ms Turei's original media release is available here: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1702/S00219/cadbury-closure-a-tragedy-for-dunedin-and-working-people.htm
The Taxpayers’ Union’s response is here: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1702/S00201/the-greens-must-be-kidding.htm
ENDS