Source: Green Party
The Green Party says the Government’s fossil fuel crisis relief package leaves too many New Zealanders behind.
“The Luxon Government has turned its back on hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders, asking them to foot the bill for Trump’s war on Iran,” said Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson.
Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick says, “The Government’s narrow tweaks to tax credits leaves behind the tens of thousands of people their economic plan has pushed out of work, only to then punish with new obligations and sanctions.
“So much for planning for the ‘worst case scenario.’ There is no plan to support people onto public transport and reduce fuel demand, no plan to prevent corporations price gouging while families cut back on groceries.
“Perhaps worse, Luxon has doubled down on his commitment to burn billions of taxpayer dollars on infrastructure that fosters more fossil-fuel dependency and vulnerability, like the LNG import facility and Roads of National Significance.
“The Greens proposed a sensible plan for free public transport, direct relief for everyone earning under the median income, increased mileage for care workers, more school bus services and a windfall profits tax.”
“Christopher Luxon and Nicola Willis have made the decision to allow the same people they’ve made poorer through their economic decisions to carry the disproportionate cost of this fossil fuel crisis.”
Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson said the Government’s package fails to help those hardest hit by the fuel crisis.
“The Government showed today it is not prepared to match the scale of what people are facing and the crisis New Zealanders are dealing with.”
“This package does nothing for beneficiaries and their children, retirees, or unpaid carers, who are all left out entirely.”
“Caregiving is work. Raising children is work. Looking after a parent or a loved one is work. These people are facing rising costs making it more difficult to care for their loved ones. This package does not count any of it.”
“This is a crisis and the Government’s response will do nothing for most New Zealanders. The situation demands far more than what was announced today.”
LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/24/governments-fossil-fuel-relief-package-fails-to-meet-the-crisis/