National’s deputy leader is standing by her claim she’s obtained a leaked copy of the Labour’s proposed tax policy – and teased that there might be more revelations to come.
Nicola Willis caused yet another headache for the government yesterday after claiming it would announce a plan to remove GST off fruit and vegetables. That’s something the finance minister Grant Robertson has previously criticised as a tricky move.
So far, nothing has been confirmed and government ministers were quick to offer a “no comment” response when pressed by media yesterday.
But speaking to RNZ, Willis said she’s confident in her source and her decision to go public with the leak. “I understand that this is their policy and I think people will be interested to know,” she said. “I’m not going to reveal sources, it’s very important that they can have the [assurance] they won’t be revealed. You never know, there might be more water from this well.”
The cost of living will undoubtedly be a key issue in this year’s election and so far neither major party has released its tax plan (Te Pāti Māori unveiled a “bottom line” plan yesterday that would go far further than just looking at GST on produce). Willis said that the leaked government proposal wouldn’t be enough. “The problem is in the past year alone fruit and vegetables have gone up 22%,” she said. “It would only take us back to the prices they were nine months ago. What we really need to do is solve the underlying drivers of rampant price inflation, that’s what’s catching New Zealanders out – it’s groceries, it’s rent, it’s prices across the board.”
National has long stood by its plan to adjust tax thresholds, which Willis said would allow every New Zealander to end up with more money in their bank account. “There is just no doubt New Zealanders are really struggling with the cost of living and National wants to see food be more affordable and people be able to get ahead once more,” she said.
On Newshub’s AM, Willis suggested her party may try to beat Labour to announcing a tax policy. “We are going to bring that forward and you will know about that really soon,” she said.
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