Alastair Scott
National MP Wairarapa
1) Are you in favour of a water tax for its commercial use? Why, why not?
I am not in favour of a water tax that taxes one group and not another. A water tax that is imposed on irrigators and not councils is not fair. A water tax that charges irrigators and does not tax Coca-Cola is unfair. A water tax that charges different rates depending on the business use is unfair. If an irrigator is taxed for water use, should households be taxed too? Should commercial cleaners be taxed?
If we are taxing water which is exported, should we tax an apple grower that exports water wrapped in a skin? Should we tax bottles of beer that are exported? These producers are exporting water. They may or may not be irrigators.
If there is any new tax of any sort introduced, it must be broad based and fair. The consequences must be thought through. The Labour Party tax targets specific groups and is unfair.
2) Does such a tax threaten to deepen the region's town/country rift and the disconnect between food production and our population?
The tax is being promoted to appeal to the townies who think that irrigation means dirty waterways. The evidence is clear that the dirtiest rivers are in the cities and in areas that have low irrigation rates. The opposition is determined to appeal to the Aucklander who doesn't realise city councils and wastewater systems are major polluters. They do not understand there are consent conditions that must be met by irrigators. The policy is definitely pitched towards ignorant city dwellers against the primary sector and regional New Zealand.
3) Some say this will cost farmers and consumers - do you agree?
Like any increase in the cost of production the cost must be passed on to the customer, or the business goes broke. The water tax will increase the cost of production of primary products. Bread, chicken, apples, cheese, milk, fruit and veges and their derivatives, bread, cereals, fruit juice, icecream. In other words, the cost of everything in the supermarket produced domestically will rise. In the local market, imported goods will be cheaper than domestic products. We will consume more imported meat and fruit as New Zealand produced products become relatively expensive. Similarly, in the international market our exporters will suffer as NZ products will be more expensive and less competitive in the global market.