Bennett David: Taxation (Urgent Measures and Annual Rates) Bill — In Committee Third Reading 
Bennett David: Taxation (Urgent Measures and Annual Rates) Bill — In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:651;Page:219] 
DAVID BENNETT (National—Hamilton East) 
: 
 First I would like to congratulate the Chair on his very good ruling earlier which set the tone for his chairmanship which is something that the public and this Parliament have been looking forward to for a long time. 
Hon Dr Michael Cullen 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. It is out of order to comment on a presiding officer’s ruling. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: Yes I know it is. I was hoping he was going to terminate. Will the member get on with his speech. 
Hon Ruth Dyson 
: I was hoping he was going to terminate as well. 
DAVID BENNETT 
: The only termination we have seen is the Labour Party at the last election about a month ago. They are sitting there now trying to work out what is going on are they not? 
The independent earner tax credit is an initiative that National and its coalition partners have put through in this great legislation the Taxation (Urgent Measures and Annual Rates) Bill. It is something many New Zealanders have looked forward to for a long time. They have looked forward to a signal from the Government of the day that it actually does reward hard work and that it sends the right signals to those people who are willing to go out there and make the most of their opportunities. That is what this legislation is about. It is about sending the signal to hard-working Kiwis that the Government does care that the Government does provide the circumstances so that people can provide for themselves and for their families in the future. 
That is what the tax credit for independent earners is all about. Its importance will develop over time as the individuals who take advantage of this tax credit become the families of the future of our country. A lot of young people starting off in their careers now find that they are in situations where they pay high taxes and they feel that they are not getting any support. They are the people who want to get married have children buy a house and set up what we consider to be the heart of the New Zealand community. We have not been looking after those people in this country. We have not been giving them the incentive to stay in New Zealand to actually do the things that develop their communities in this country. Well National is making a constructive step today to give them some kind of a signal that we want to reward their enterprise and their activity. We want to show them that there is a future in this country and that the Government of the day will look after them and will provide the platform for them to go ahead and achieve their dreams. 
That is fundamental to building a stronger economy. When we talk about this legislation as being part of a process of economic growth many people will ask how that will be part of that process. It is quite obvious now that if we look after the young people who are making their first steps in their career to encourage them to stay here and to deliver for this economy then we are building a stronger economic base for our country. That is the fundamental element of this legislation and the reason behind it. We want to give that future—that brighter future—for the next generation of New Zealanders. 
To do that we must give them the tools to invest in themselves and also give them the tools so that they get the reward for that investment. No other Government has done this in recent times but National has. We are not afraid of taking the steps to set out an agenda and a process for New Zealanders to succeed and prosper. We are not afraid to set out a process by which people can have hope and faith in their country and their future. This legislation gives hope and direction to young New Zealanders who want to make a better brighter future in this country. They need not go overseas to take advantage of their future and their careers. They can stay in New Zealand and take advantage because we will give them the reward for their hard work the reward for their education and the reward for their diligence and dedication to their job. 
That is an important signal for any Government to send. It is important that we as a Parliament send that signal especially at this time when we need young people in our country when we need people to feel that they have direction and motivation and that there is a way forward. National has provided that direction. We have provided the way forward. We are providing that brighter future. It is great legislation; its tax credits for independent earners will go down as something that will be one of the major steps and one of the first steps in providing a brighter future for all New Zealanders as we go forward.