McNair Craig: Income Tax Bill — First Reading 
McNair Craig: Income Tax Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:606;Page:3544] 
CRAIG McNAIR (NZ First) 
: 
 Before I start my speech I will say that when I heard Gordon Copeland talk about giving people a tax holiday I have not previously seen Rodney Hide as excited as he was at that. I have never seen somebody’s eyes light up as much as his did. That was very amusing and it reminded me of my days as a kid when I was given a lollipop or something. [ 
Interruption 
] Well I guess that is a compliment these days; I should not take offence at that should I?  
But I do take pleasure in speaking very briefly to this bill on behalf of the New Zealand First Party and my New Zealand First colleagues. I am also very glad to represent that party on the Finance and Expenditure Committee with my leader the Rt Hon Winston Peters.  
I noticed that the Minister of Finance the Hon Dr Michael Cullen was quoted as saying this about the bill: “The purpose of rewriting the Income Tax Act is to make it clear plainly written and structurally consistent.” As one of the New Zealand First members on the Finance and Expenditure Committee I look forward to working cooperatively with the other parties to make sure that we can do something about making that legislation truly clear plainly written and structurally consistent.  
The Hon Dr Michael Cullen also said: “The rewriting has been done in a plain-language style that seeks to present ideas clearly and directly.” A description like that makes me think that this legislation will be a best seller at Whitcoulls or something like that—that it will be a big hit at the bookshops. However on looking at this bill one sees that it is hardly what one would call light reading. It is hardly what I would read to my nephew or niece at bedtime or anything like that. 
R Doug Woolerton 
: You’d have to be a nerd to read that. 
CRAIG McNAIR 
: I guess that makes the Finance and Expenditure Committee— 
R Doug Woolerton 
: Or both. 
CRAIG McNAIR 
: All 2011 pages— 
Rodney Hide 
: What else do you do when you go to bed? 
CRAIG McNAIR 
: The  
Sunday Star-Times  
would think I would be reading that at bedtime but anyway Doug Woolerton our president knows better than that. I was listening—[ 
Interruption 
] Not like that Mr Hide.  
I was thinking about what the National spokesperson on finance Dr Don Brash said when he talked about simplifying the system by reducing the income tax rates. That did not gain Rodney Hide’s attention like the idea of tax holidays did. I am still truly amazed at how happy Rodney Hide was when he heard that. I heard Don Brash talk about lowering the company tax rate and the income tax rate but I propose to the House that we think a little more creatively than that. I know that I will sound like a broken record to members like Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Rodney Hide and other members of the Finance and Expenditure Committee such as the chairperson Clayton Cosgrove. However I ask that committee the House and the Government to think outside the square and to think creatively. Instead of just saying that tax cuts will solve everything—cutting the income tax rate and the company tax rate—we should think creatively and look outside the square by looking at tax incentives for exporters. Let us think of something like that. Let us have an open mind about this bill I tell Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith and make our economy work. Those members should not think in a close-minded way just about tax cuts. I tell this House and the Government to think more creatively on that aspect of taxation.  
I close tonight by saying that the New Zealand First Party does support this bill going to a select committee. 
R Doug Woolerton 
: Do we? 
CRAIG McNAIR 
: We sure do Mr President. My leader the Rt Hon Winston Peters and I look forward to working on the Finance and Expenditure Committee to make sure that this legislation is beneficial to all New Zealanders.