Woolerton R Doug: Taxation (Annual Rates of income Tax 2005-06) Bill Taxation (Urgent Measures) Bill Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill — Third Readings 
Woolerton R Doug: Taxation (Annual Rates of income Tax 2005-06) Bill Taxation (Urgent Measures) Bill Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill — Third Readings 
[Volume:628;Page:795] 
R DOUG WOOLERTON (NZ First) 
: 
 We had to endure hearing the Hon Bill English perpetuating the myth of the possibility of a coalition between New Zealand First the Maori Party and any and everybody and their mother’s dog at the last election. That was simply not going to happen and he knows it. [ 
Interruption 
] Yes I know all about the baubles. Then we had the Hon Lockwood Smith going on about the marginal tax rate but what he will again not tell the people of New Zealand in spite of everything he said—and we all know there is a point where it is difficult for people to admit things—is that the Working for Families package makes things better for the people. There will be more money in their hand at the end of the day to buy the Christmas presents to do all the things he is talking about. The package ensures there is more money for those people to do that and he knows it. 
Hon Marian Hobbs 
: They will buy their Christmas presents. 
R DOUG WOOLERTON 
: Of course! New Zealand First went on about increased wages at the election. That was our policy but no the National Party would not support it; nor would Labour for that matter. But at least Labour is making up the gap in another way. That is why we support the Working for Families package. 
We believe that the people of New Zealand should do it by themselves; they should have wages that are commensurate with the work they do—somewhere in line with those of Australia not 30 percent out give or take a percentage or so which is where they are today. While I am talking about wages let me address this business that Bill English has gone on about again—public sector wages rising more than private sector wages. He is right but were those ratios right before? No they were not. Nurses were underpaid police were underpaid and the armed services were underpaid. That is what the National Party would like to perpetuate. Public sector versus private sector ratios were not right before so we are seeing a catch-up. I would have liked to see both the public sector and the private sector get a wage increase but National did not agree with that. [ 
Interruption 
] 
They go on about tax cuts ad nauseam—I thank Katherine Rich—because tax cuts in their view are the answer to everything but they did not talk about incentivising the tax system; they were just going to give a tax cut to whomever. New Zealand First in its agreement with the Labour Party will deliver some tax incentive and we will go some way towards delivering recompense to older people as well. But it is New Zealand First who is doing that and we will not be borrowing as the National Party was going to have to do with its promises. 
It is all very well for these people to go on about these things but they did not win the election. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Really! 
R DOUG WOOLERTON 
: I do not know whether they have noticed it. I tell you what: some of those old men in a hurry at the back of the National Party caucus are going to be causing some hassles come next year—do not worry about that! No National could not deliver those things but New Zealand First is assisting in making sure those things happen. We are not absolutely 100 percent happy with the Working for Families package but we are supporting it because it will help New Zealanders. We are not happy necessarily with doing away with interest on student loans. That policy was just to gazump what the National Party had offered I might say. But we believe in a universal living allowance and we have said so and that is why we voted against Part 3. 
I get back to the fact that if a policy would advantage New Zealanders and progress the country then New Zealand members will support it even though we did not invent it and it is not our policy because that would be the right thing to do. It is all very well for those members to yell from the sidelines because they are upset that they did not win the election and to carry on like trained seals— 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Nine long years. 
R DOUG WOOLERTON 
: —but we are here doing something. Yes it has been 9 long years. Mr Assistant Speaker I doubt that you believe this yourself with due respect—and I know I should not bring you into the debate—but it could be 12 years. What are these old new members of Parliament going to do? They are grey-haired now. They make you and me look young—which of course we do. Those people will be upset and my goodness gracious me they will give this current front bench of the National Party a hurry-up when they start stamping their feet. There are some fearsome reputations at the back of the House but the reputations are only one thing; it is the fearsome egos of those people that will be causing the problems in the years to come. But that is a sideshow that we do not have to pay for. That is a sideshow that we will be able to sit back and watch in the coming years. 
Before I sit down I want to say something to the National Party members who say that tax cuts are the answer to everything and that the people of New Zealand say they want tax cuts. Of course they do. If the National Party asks only half the question and if the half it asks is “Do you want tax cuts?” of course people will say yes. But if they are asked whether they want tax cuts and to cut the wages of nurses or do away with schools or do away with roading and all those things then they are not so sure. They say they do not know that they want tax cuts if that is what is going to happen. That is the second half of the question which National has not been putting before the public of New Zealand.