Cost of living up as Govt piles on tax and regulation

“If the Government wants to know why inflation is through the roof it should look at the very areas it’s piled taxes on,” says ACT’s Associate Finance spokesperson Damien Smith.

"Christmas will be that much harder for Kiwi families this year. Housing costs are up, so are housing taxes. Petrol costs are up, so are petrol taxes. Rents are up, so are rental regulations.

“Inflation at 4.9 per cent was the inevitable result of printing money as a cushion through COVID. Kiwis are now literally paying the price.

“The Reserve Bank's money printing has created enormous inequity, with asset prices being inflated for those already wealthy, while prices rise for those trying to get ahead.

“The Government needs to stop messing with the economy, New Zealand now needs sensible economic management. The days of easy money printing are over.

“It should ditch its avalanche of damaging regulations such as those on farmers, the Zero Carbon Act, and so-called Fair Pay agreements. Instead, it should be asking how to create the conditions for prosperity.

“The Government should be trying to make life easier for New Zealander's but under its watch, the cost of living seen a record increase.

“It all adds up and middle New Zealand is taking a hammering. Families have to budget and manage their costs; why isn't this Government doing the same and reducing taxes.

“Everything this Labour Government does is either about taxing and redistributing or dividing us against each other. There is a better way, as ACT has shown with our alternative budget.

“We would cut the 30 percent marginal tax rate to 17.5 percent. We will reverse the 39 percent tax rate and we will reverse the Government’s interest deductibility change.

"Under our plan the average earner would get between $1286 and $2107 in their pocket a year from tax cuts.

“ACT will continue to fight for middle New Zealand, the battlers being squeezed from every direction by this Government.”