National to appeal ruling on ‘car tax’ advert

National has withdrawn one of its online advertisements attacking aspects of the Government’s Clean Car plan and branding it “Labour’s Car Tax” after the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled it was likely to “confuse or deceive” the public.

But the Opposition party told RNZ it “strongly disagrees” with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and will appeal its decision.

The advertisement is among several attack ads National put on social media targeting the government’s proposed Clean Car Discount ‘feebate’ scheme and Clean Car Emissions fuel efficiency standards.

National’s Facebook post accused the Government of imposing a $6000 “car tax” and referred to a Simon Bridges’ press release on the topic.

“What hope does an ordinary Kiwi have for getting some relief from taxes and costs if the people running the government think $6000 is a small fee?” the post said.

That brought two complaints from people who claimed it was “misleading or deceptive” as the policy stated the largest fee proposed was $3000 and only applied to a “very small number” of “the most gas guzzling” vehicles.

The ASA upheld the charges and asked for removal of the post, ruling it was “likely to confuse or deceive consumers”.

Responding to the complaints, National says the advertisement’s point was to “draw the viewers’ attention to the [policy’s] negative effect”.

National says the linked press release put the $6000 figure in context and included the method and workings used to calculate the cost.

But the ASA complaints board says the proof provided by National is “insufficient” for the level of its “very specific claim”.

The board also reviewed the Clean Car consultation plan and found “no evidence” that the plan could result in a $6000 cost.

The ASA adds it’s inaccurate to suggest the tax is directed towards “ordinary Kiwis”.

It had earlier dismissed several complaints about another National Party advertisement criticising the ‘feebate’ scheme.