Claudette Hauiti

Labour’s Revenue and Internal Affairs spokesperson, Barbara Edmonds, says National’s proposed tax cuts are counting on more people gambling.

Labour’s Revenue and Internal Affairs spokesperson, Barbara Edmonds, says National’s proposed tax cuts are counting on more people gambling.

The revenue side of the policy released this week includes $179 a year from taxing offshore operators of online casinos.

Barbara Edmonds says not only has National done its sums wrong but there’s no harm minimisation plan for those most affected by gambling.

“It causes more harm, because in order to achieve what National say is the amount that you need, you need people to gamble more. But you need to have the harm minimization framework in order to help prevent that,” she says.

Government already collects about $38 million a year in GST from online gambling.