Greens don’t know the biggest cost to households (it’s them)

“Marama Davidson couldn’t say on Herald NOW this morning how much the Green’s policy will cost taxpayers. Luckily for the Greens, ACT is always willing to help,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“The biggest threat to the cost of living is higher taxes, more borrowing, and the inflation it drives. If you’re worried about the cost of living now, wait till you see the prices after they blow out inflation.

“The Greens are promising $254 billion in new spending according to the Taxpayer Union’s tally. On conservative estimates, and assuming lenders don’t hike interest rates, that’ll mean an extra $4,045 annual interest bill for every household – or even higher taxes than they’re already promising.

“Their spending promises would see net core Crown debt balloon to at least $463 billion by 2030/31. That’s $246 billion more debt than under ACT’s plan, and $233 billion more than Treasury’s forecast.

"The Greens would make government bigger than it was in the middle of the pandemic. Pandemic spending was an emergency. The Greens' fiscal plan would put New Zealand’s economy in a permanent state of emergency.

“These are the people angling for the finance portfolio in Hipkins’ Government, it’s not an exaggeration to say they would deliver financial ruin for New Zealand.

“ACT has released a fully costed fiscal plan identifying $22 billion in savings over four years, returning the books to surplus earlier, with no new taxes and $12.4 billion less debt than Treasury forecasts by 2031.

“We’re cutting waste so we can invest in frontline services, make it easier for New Zealanders to access primary healthcare, and remove tax on qualifying KiwiSaver investment earnings.

“New Zealand is already paying more than $1 million every hour in interest on government debt. We cannot afford to keep borrowing against the next generation’s future to pay for today’s political promises.

“The stakes could not be higher. To lock the Greens out, we must lock Labour out. A Party Vote for ACT achieves that, while also helping the Coalition to go further and faster in paying down the debt."