Land Tax on the table under Labour
National is making no apologies for warning New Zealanders that at least nine new taxes, including a Land Tax, are on the table under a Labour Government, National’s Campaign Chair Simeon Brown says.
“Labour MPs are taking issue with National highlighting the risk of a Land Tax under a Labour Government and continue to insist that a Capital Gains Tax is its only tax policy.
“If that is the case, then why has Labour’s Revenue spokesperson Deborah Russell explicitly floated the prospect in Parliament of a Land Tax as a way to increase revenue?
“Even if Chris Hipkins won’t say it out loud, it’s clear that behind the scenes Labour is toying with the idea of more new taxes, including a Land Tax.
“Labour isn’t being upfront about its tax plans, and we think New Zealanders deserve to know what is at stake this election and won’t apologise for highlighting that.
“The reality is Labour has made around $18 billion worth of spending promises to New Zealanders and it needs to pay for those promises somehow.
“Not only has Labour got this $18 billion hidden bill, but it has also created a $4.6 billion hole for itself in the transport fund and said it wants to take revenue and spending up to 33 per cent of GDP.
“That is all evidence that more taxes are on the table, because there’s no way a Capital Gains Tax will gather the money Labour needs to fund its profligate spending plans.
“Conveniently for Labour, its prospective coalition partners in the Greens, Te Pati Maori and The Opportunity Party are proposing a raft of new taxes on incomes, homes, land, assets and businesses.
“Between the four parties, there are now more than nine new taxes, including a Land Tax, on the table to help pay for Labour’s spending promises.
“These new taxes will impact New Zealand households and businesses and send our economic recovery backwards.
“The choice is clear this election, between a National Government promising no new taxes or a Labour Government with at least nine new taxes on the table.”
Notes to editors:
Deborah Russell’s full quote in Parliament:
“In terms of other forms of taxes that could increase the much-needed revenue base for New Zealand—after all, gentlemen, roads don’t grow on trees—has he considered a land value tax? A land value tax would be a way of increasing some of the revenue that could come into the Government’s accounts. It could be used very deliberately to fund some of the activities. Has the Minister considered perhaps using a land value tax?”
Link to Hansard transcript here.
