GST protesters disrupt Minister

Press, 25 July 1985, Page 4

GST protesters disrupt Minister

PA Auckland The Minister of Finance, Mr Douglas, was silenced briefly at a tax seminar in Auckland yesterday when about 20 protesters entered the room. Chanting “One, two, three, four, GST will tax the poor,” the group pushed past doormen at the Hyatt Kingsgate Hotel and into the room where Mr Douglas was answering a question at the $25 a head function. Speaking through a loudhailer, one protester said, “You are selling out the workers, Douglas. It is the end of the Labour Party.” Earlier, 200 members of the Auckland regional Chamber of Commerce arriving outside the hotel for the seminar had to walk past members of the group bearing placards with such slogans as “Make the rich

pay” and “Douglas is a Dog.” After making their protest inside, the protesters were quickly ushered out by hotel staff. The police, who had been present until just after the seminar started, returned about an hour later, well after the group had left. A hotel spokesman, Mr Joe Skipps, said no formal complaint had been lodged. “The Chamber of Commerce said they do not want to press charges,” he said. “They came and did their thing, and then they were escorted out. They did force entry into the hotel, but there was no damage done.” When the protesters left the seminar, Mr Douglas ignored them and proceeded to answer the question which had been put just before they intruded.