Nash Stuart: Taxation (Budget Tax Measures) Bill — In Committee Third Reading 
Nash Stuart: Taxation (Budget Tax Measures) Bill — In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:654;Page:4010] 
STUART NASH (Labour) 
: 
 It is with pleasure that I stand and speak in the Committee stage on the first part of the Taxation (Budget Tax Measures) Bill and I do support this bill. I support it because it removes a great inequity in New Zealand society. I am sure the people of Rotorua understand what the hell this Budget is about and what the tax cuts would have meant for them—absolutely nothing for 75 percent of them. 
I would like to talk about two things: clauses 3 and 4 which repeal National’s flagship tax policy and broken promises. I keep hearing that this Budget is about what is best for New Zealand. But this bill is not about the Budget; this bill is about repealing a promise I tell Ms Adams. Part 1 is about personal tax cuts and independent earner tax credits. We all know that these were the wonder measures that were going to stimulate the economy and that swept National to victory in 2008. Tax cuts had been the National Party’s mantra since 2005 and were so in 2008 when under urgency National passed legislation to cut taxes and held itself up as the Government of integrity. “Trust me” said Mr Key: “I promise. I promise. I promise.” But I say “Rubbish! Rubbish! Rubbish!”. What has happened after delivering on the first promise? Under urgency we have received another bill straight after Mr English’s Budget that—wait for it—repeals the first promise. The shining light of the National Government’s legislative programme which all New Zealanders have waited so long for will be gone before Queen’s Birthday. What a great holiday present for the working Kiwis of this country! 
It is actually quite religious. Tax cuts were here by Christmas but like a bunch of turkeys New Zealanders have been tricked: they have found that their precious tax cuts delivered by wonderful “Santa Claus” Key have been stolen by the “Grinch” Mr English not 6 months later. Is that fair I ask the Committee? Is that fair I ask Mr Tremain? What do the 75 percent of the constituents of Napier who earn under $40000 a year think? Considering they got nothing under National’s original tax cuts policy anyway I think they probably feel pretty aggrieved full stop. Not only has National alienated the 75 percent of people who got nothing under the tax cut in the original legislation but it has also probably annoyed the top 3 percent of earners who got 30 percent of the original tax cuts anyway. No friends will be made with this legislation I tell Mr Foss. I hate to think what the wonderful people of Tukituki are thinking right now. Actually I do know what they are thinking. They are thinking that this is not what they voted for. This is not what they voted for at all. 
Paul Quinn 
: At least he got in. 
STUART NASH 
: And they certainly did not vote for Mr Paul Quinn. Actually we want Louisa Wall back; we want a real rugby player back. Labour delivered Helen Clark and Michael Cullen delivered and Phil Goff will deliver once again because he is not a man who says one thing gets elected and then does not deliver to the people of New Zealand. Phil Goff is a man of principle. The vast majority of New Zealanders now say that they voted for tax cuts but National has taken those tax cuts away so they are asking how they can trust Mr Key. They know they can trust Mr Goff because he has always delivered for New Zealanders so it will be: “Dear John; goodbye.” 
This bill repeals National’s flagship election promise. This bill represents—no it epitomises—National’s broken promises. What am I talking about? Members know what I am talking about: the pledges made by Mr Key. What was one of those pledges? He said that by reducing personal tax cuts on 1 April 2009 1 April 2010 and 1 April 2011 he would ensure that New Zealanders could get ahead on their own steam. I ask Amy Adams whether that is right. It was a nice tune but now National members are singing out of key. It was a good tune but now the Government is out of key. National promised and promised but they delivered the bill that I am speaking to. Part 1 consists solely of the repeal of 18 sections of the Taxation (Urgent Measures and Annual Rates) Act 2008 and the repeal of three sections of the Taxation (Business Tax Measures) Act. There is nothing positive nothing inspirational and nothing at all except repeal repeal another repeal and another repeal. Do members know what Part 1 repeals? It repeals all the tax cuts and the independent tax earner credits promised to the people of New Zealand.