工党税务发言人斯图亚特•纳什（Stuart Nash）、工党财经事务发言人大卫•康利夫 (Hon David Cunliffe) 联合新闻稿：
财政部长比尔•英格里希的税务工作组提出增加GST（商品服务税）---这对于已身陷窘境、阮囊羞涩的新西兰人而言，实在是坏消息。
做出上述表示的是工党税务发言人斯图亚特•纳什和财经事务发言人大卫•康利夫。
“关于增收GST的提议足以令低收入及从事合同工的新西兰人深为忧惧---他们属于无力应对新GST变化的人群，”斯图亚特•纳什说。
“我注意到工作组建议政府考虑对低收入者在税收方面有所补偿，但是我怀疑国家党政府能值得我们信任，去为需要补偿的弱势群体提供帮助。”
大卫•康利夫说，政府要考虑到：我们已经处于经济衰退的困难时期，在过去的12个月里失业人数成倍增长，这种情况下提高15%甚至20%的GST，会给已经疲于奔命的国人雪上加霜。
他并且表示，就在过去几天里，坊间还就新西兰人今年冬天付多少电费展开激烈讨论。现实是什么呢，现实是许多新西兰人连生存的最基本需要—取暖的费用都付不起。因此就不能轻易把对GST实施大动作视为孤立的问题，应当置于新西兰的大环境中来审视。所说大环境，就是很多新西兰人在经济不景的压力下已经捉襟见肘。
斯图亚特•纳什认为，除了政府财政税收上所受到的影响，现政府还要将任何可能因税改而产生的人力成本计算在内。
“片面地拿国际范例说事，就意味着埋头苦干、只想得到公平对待的新西兰人到头来什么也得不到，”斯图亚特•纳什说。“任何对税收制度的重审，都必须意识到其中负载的社会责任。”
18 August 2009 Media Statement
Changes to GST regime bad news for hard-pressed New Zealanders
The first recommendation emerging from Finance Minister Bill English’s tax working group – increasing the level of GST --- is bad news for hard-pressed New Zealanders, say Labour revenue spokesperson Stuart Nash and finance spokesperson David Cunliffe.
“The recommendation has serious implications for low-income and fixed-income New Zealanders, those who are least able to adjust to a new regime,” Stuart Nash said.
“I note that the working group suggests that the Government should consider compensating those on lower incomes as part of any tax reform package, but I doubt that a National government can be trusted to provide the sort of compensation that vulnerable individuals and families would inevitably need.”
David Cunliffe said the Government also needed to take into account that lifting the GST rate to 15 percent or even 20 percent in a time of recession, with unemployment having doubled over the past 12 months, would have a crushing impact on New Zealanders who were already struggling to cope.
“Just in the past few days, for example, debate has intensified over how much New Zealanders are paying for electricity this winter,” David Cunliffe said.
“The reality is that many New Zealanders find it difficult to afford to pay for basic needs like heating their homes. A broad brush measure like raising the level of GST cannot be seen in isolation. It has to be seen in the context of everyday life for many New Zealanders already finding it hard to make ends meet.”
Stuart Nash said the Government needs to take into account the human cost of any proposed tax changes and not just the fiscal and revenue implications.
“International benchmarking means nothing to hard-working New Zealanders who simply want a fair deal,” said Stuart Nash. “Any review of the tax system must have regard to a sense of social responsibility.”
Contact: Stuart Nash 021 444 888, David Cunliffe 021 377 337.
