Flawed bill will still cost Aucklanders
24.03.10 Labour MP Phil Twyford says Rodney Hides third super city bill states that 6 of the Auckland CCOs will pay tax. Today’s promise by Mr Hide to make these CCOs tax neutral is an example of mistakes that are made when Ministers ram through legislation without working through the issues properly first.

“Mr Hide’s oversight could have cost Auckland ratepayers tens of millions of dollars all because he oversaw a rushed and shoddy legislative process. Phil Twyford said.

"Even if Auckland ratepayers believe Rodney Hides promise of CCO tax neutrality, they will still be expected to foot the $34 million bill for consultant’s fees and executive salaries at the Auckland Transition Agency and pay more for rates. On top of this, rates will increase as a result of the Government's plan to raise GST.

"But at the same time Aucklanders are being allowed no choice about the super city, CCOs will lock them out of decision making on three quarters of Council operations, and their local boards will have no power to make by laws.

"That is taxation without representation. Which is a bit off coming from Rodney Hide who likes to refer to himself as the Minister for Ratepayers, and made his career preaching lower taxes.

“The Government has no idea how much all this is going to cost. The only thing for certain is that the Auckland ratepayer is picking up the tab”.