Chris Hipkins' claim to resign rather than introduce any new tax beyond his capital gains tax is a promise he won't be able to keep, National's Campaign Chair Simeon Brown says.
"Yesterday Chris Hipkins claimed he would rather resign than bring in new taxes beyond his capital gains tax. This is a promise he can't possibly make given the potential size of the Green Party and their resulting negotiating leverage.
"The Greens have been crystal clear about their bottom lines - higher spending, more taxes and more borrowing.
"Chlöe Swarbrick has called Labour's capital gains tax a 'starting point', and said additional taxes would be her 'first cab off the rank' in the first 100 days of a new government. Marama Davidson has said no politician will be able to ignore the Greens' mandate.
"Something has to give. If Chris Hipkins really won't agree to the Greens' taxes or the portfolios that they want, then they must be planning to grant huge concessions when it comes to increased spending and borrowing. Kiwis deserve answers before they vote on Saturday."
Chris Hipkins needs to answer these simple questions:
- If the Greens' taxes are off the table, will Chris Hipkins agree to higher borrowing instead to pay for the Greens' spending demands?
- Will Chris Hipkins also resign if he increases borrowing beyond Labour's fiscal plan to pay for anything he agrees to in coalition negotiations?
"Chris Hipkins and Labour have tried to play this game on tax before but history shows they can't be trusted.
"In 2020 Labour said they would only make one tax change after the election but instead made four by putting in place a higher income tax rate, removing interest deductibility on rental properties, introducing the ute tax and extending the bright line test. This was when they were in coalition with themselves and didn't have to rely on any other parties.
"In 2023 Chris Hipkins ruled out a capital gains tax using exactly those words. Now he's campaigning on one. He's simply saying what he thinks he needs to say in order to get elected, and he'll find a way to spin it after the election.
"This election is tight and the choice is clear. Kiwis can stick with National's plan for a more secure future, a growing economy, paying down debt and getting back to surplus with no new taxes. Or they can risk going back to Labour, in coalition with the Greens, which would spend more, tax more and borrow more.
"A party vote for anyone other than National risks Labour finishing as the largest party and forming a coalition with the Greens, which would send us all backwards.
"Don't risk it. Only a party vote for National keeps the plan that's working - so get out and vote today to secure your future."
