WOW – Look At This NZTU Revelation. Still on Ute Tax.

Another email from Jordan Willams At The Taxpyers Union – Received 9.57am today.

Here is what they say!!!

What an incredible 24 hours!

Last night the Prime Minister’s Office stepped in and overruled Simon Watts.

Within six hours of our email, Christopher Luxon’s office went into damage control and has now totally ruled out Watts’ “Ute Tax 2.0” and the proposed Fringe Benefit Tax raid on work vehicles.

After we blew the whistle yesterday, our phones ran hot from media interested in the story and asking for the Ministerial papers.

What became clear is that despite the Climate Change and Revenue Minister instructing IRD officials to develop the policy – and even had IRD consult with the tax industry on implementation – most of Simon Watts’ Cabinet colleagues just had no idea!

We understand the issue took Luxon’s office by total surprise. 🤦

Heather du Plessis-Allan picked up the baton (interviewing the Federated Farmers spokesman) and was first to get the U-turn out of National (listen to it unfold here).

Heather’s producer was provided the following statement from Luxon’s press team in response to the Taxpayers’ Union and Federated Farmers exposing Watts’ Ministerial direction and the IRD’s proposals:

The National Party also rushed out an email last night to its rural members which locks-in the policy U-turn (click to open larger version).

When the documents literally show that IRD officials were instructed by the Minister of Revenue to progress an FBT Ute Tax, the Nats now claiming that those who expressed concern are “misinformed” is political spin at its worst.

It’s almost from the Ardern-era. 😉

But who cares? As soon as the National Party realised what Simon Watts had been quietly orchestrating this tax grab for months, they saw the political risk and acted quickly to overrule Watts and kill the policy.

The Prime Minister’s office could not be clearer, Simon Watts has been overruled and the Ute Tax is dead. 🪦

Thank you for your support – especially to the many thousands of people who used our email tool to contact National Party MPs yesterday. Chalk it up as another policy victory. 😇

This win proves again: when taxpayers raise their voices, politicians are forced to listen – even to rein in their own rogue ministers.

I Raise This Question

Will Simon Watts resign his portfolios and move to the Green Party? As a `white cis male’ he could make number 15 on their list behind Benjamin Doyle.

Or?????

Will PM Luxon sack him and give his portfolios to someone competent – Andrew Bayly springs to mind.