工党财经事务发言人大卫•康利夫(Hon David Cunliffe) 和斯图亚特•纳什(Stuart Nash)日前指出：政府的税务工作组看样子是在打算劫贫济富。
诺曼•尊美尔教授是代表财相的税务工作组的，他提出的GST税改，据说会让年收入$48,000以下的人不寒而栗。
已经有媒体报导说，尊美尔教授称，38%与33%的个人所得税降到30%之后造成的损失，可籍由GST涨到15%补回来。
尊美尔教授的建议意味着低收入人群的税收，补贴给了最有钱的富人。
大卫•康利夫说：政治一事，全关乎分清缓急轻重。税务工作组的建议此时出台，成为对政府决策能力的关键考验。
“新西兰人会看清楚何者得益、何人受损。尊美尔教授的条陈，以涨GST来换取给有钱阶层的慷慨减税，将会是继今年4月1日的减税动作伤害草根百姓利益之后（这次减税，令全国前3%的富豪赚进30%的钱），再次在伤口上撒盐。”
尊美尔教授居然还能将此杀贫济富的意图大言不惭公之于众，斯图亚特•纳什先生对此表示颇为震惊。
“国家党废除了工党的一揽子减税计划后，代之以只对年入40,000纽元以上的人有利的减税动作，现在来自税务工作组方面的建议竟然是进一步对这个国家最穷的人群课更多的税，以滋养本国最有钱的阶层。这实在令人难以置信。我们不禁要问：提这种建议的人，他是活在真实的世界里么？”
大卫•康利夫说，工党支持对税务制度有积极意义的改进，也认为重新审视当前的税制是适逢其时的。但是，工党不同意由于税改而造成更深的社会不平等。由于税务制度改革而产生的调适的代价应当公平分摊，而不应当让我国最弱势的人群成为首当其冲的牺牲品。
David Cunliffe
Finance Spokesperson
Stuart Nash
Revenue Spokesperson
GST plan: Robin Hood in reverse
The Government’s tax working group seems intent on taking from the poor to give to the rich, say Labour Finance spokesperson David Cunliffe and Revenue spokesperson Stuart Nash.
The GST views of Professor Norman Gemmell, who represents the Treasury on Finance Minister Bill English’s tax working group, should send shivers up the spine of anyone earning less than $48,000 a year, they say.
Professor Gemmell has been reported in media as saying that increasing GST to 15% could balance out reductions in the 38% and 33% tax rates to 30%.
Stuart Nash said Professor Gemmell’s suggestion meant that “those on lower incomes would subsidise tax cuts for those earning the most."
David Cunliffe said: “Politics is about priorities. The tax working group’s recommendations will provide a crucial test of the Government’s direction.
“New Zealanders will see who gets what. Professor Gemmell’s proposal to put up GST in exchange for large tax cuts for the rich will add large insult to the injury caused by the 1 April tax cuts where the top three percent got 30% of the money.”
Stuart Nash said that he was astounded that Professor Gemmell could think aloud this way, especially during a recession.
"After National repealed Labour’s tax cut package and substituted it for one which only rewarded people earning over $40,000, I am gobsmacked that a Treasury official can suggest that we should in fact tax the poorest in our society more in order to subsidise tax cuts for those earning the most. It’s unbelievable. Does he live in the real world?”
David Cunliffe said Labour favoured a progressive tax system, and acknowledged that a review of the current tax system is timely. “However, we don’t favour proposals that create further inequity in our society. The costs of adjustment must be shared fairly, not fall disproportionately on the most vulnerable.”
Contact: Stuart Nash 021 444 888, David Cunliffe 021 377 337.
