Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds is accusing National's Nicola Willis of being secretive about her plans for new taxes.
Nicola Willis has refused to rule out introducing additional levies on Kiwi households to fund the party's election promises. Labour criticizes this as "sneaky" and says that Willis must be more transparent about her revenue measures. According to Edmonds, simply stating that there will be "some new sources of revenue" does not provide sufficient information for New Zealanders who are concerned about the potential costs.
Edmonds points out that debt and unemployment continue to rise under National's watch, with growth stagnating. Forecasts have worsened since Willis took over the finance portfolio, with a $1.8 billion increase in government deficit. The spokesperson also notes that Willis has provided significant tax breaks for landlords and tobacco companies, which Labour sees as further evidence of her "fiscal mismanagement."