ACT Puts Full Support Behind Protesting Truckers

ACT Leader Rodney Hide today condemned the move to increase road user charges, saying it was a bit rich for the Government to expect the trucking industry to subsidise KiwiRail - the biggest tax 'dog' the country has seen in years.

"Truck drivers protesting the new charges have ACT's support 100 percent - it's outrageous that truckers are expected to subsidise KiwiRail, and that the new charges were announced without the four weeks' notice that Transport Minister Annette King promised," Mr Hide said.

"Finance Minister Dr Michael Cullen has already said that Labour doesn't expect KiwiRail to turn a profit - so truckers, who do have to make a profit, will have to prop up the Government to prop up KiwiRail

"It's typical of this high tax, big spending Government that it robs trucks to pay trains," Mr Hide said.

ENDS