Hide Rodney: Taxation (Annual Rates Venture Capital and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill — In Committee 
Hide Rodney: Taxation (Annual Rates Venture Capital and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:621;Page:16498] 
RODNEY HIDE (Leader—ACT) 
: 
 The ACT party opposes this bill—particularly this part that sets the annual rates. We stand here as the only party that says the move of Helen Clark and Michael Cullen to increase the top rate of tax from 33c to 39c was wrong. We say that the 39c rate should be dropped immediately. Unlike our National Party cousins—we know that John Key would like to have a policy that said: “Let’s drop the 39c to 33c.” but he has not managed to persuade his caucus—the ACT party stands firm. 
Simon Power 
: Oh! 
RODNEY HIDE 
: Well he might have persuaded Mr Power but that is not enough. The ACT party says that the top tax rate should not be 33c in the dollar but that we should go to a top rate of tax of 20c in the dollar and that we should do so immediately. [ 
Interruption 
] I hear Steve Chadwick calling out. Here is a Government that expects everyone else to pay a 39c or a 33c rate of tax but she stands to defend a Minister who pays—how much tax? Was it 39c was it 33c was it 20c? No! It was none. Steve Chadwick believes that she can look voters and taxpayers in the eye and say: “Yes you pay 39c and you pay 33c.” but here is John Tamihere who received a golden handshake of $195000 that he said he would not take—and I am coming to precisely the point of the annual tax rates. If one receives a payment of $195000 and one is a member of Parliament can someone please tell me under this legislation and the legislation it replaces or the legislation before that what the tax rate should be? It is 39c is it not? But what did the Cabinet colleague of Steve Chadwick Rick Barker and—what is the name of the fella in the chair?—David Cunliffe pay on that amount? None! So what are we doing in this Parliament passing law when Labour Party Cabinet Ministers just ignore it? John Tamihere voted for the legislation. He goes around small businesses telling them they have to pay their taxes but what does he do? He pays none. That is a disgrace and I do not see David Cunliffe getting up now to defend his Cabinet colleague. And what does Helen Clark say? She says: “Oh naughty boy! You didn’t pay your tax as set out in the annual rates of income tax for 2000-01.” 
Lianne Dalziel 
: Now you are stretching it. 
RODNEY HIDE 
: Well I can see why Lianne Dalziel is bitter. She paid her tax and she got fired. John Tamihere did not pay his tax but he did not get fired. He was sent on a holiday to west Auckland. 
Simon Power 
: At least she had honour. 
Rodney Hide 
: She had some honour. She went—[ 
Interruption 
] Oh I know. David Benson-Pope is calling out. He is saying that there is no honour with John Tamihere and I agree with him. If we are going to pass this legislation that sets the top rate of tax at 39c I expect MPs to pay it. I expect Ministers to pay it but I say to Lianne Dalziel that it is very clear— 
Lianne Dalziel 
: Who pays your money Rodney? 
RODNEY HIDE 
: Oh here we go again!. Are they not great? 
Lianne Dalziel 
: We know all about it. 
RODNEY HIDE 
: Oh yes. They know all about it. Let us hear about it then. They could get up and give a speech and tell us the story. Here we have a Labour Government with high taxes for everyone—and wasted money. Labour’s own Cabinet Minister does not pay his tax and Helen Clark says that is OK. David Cunliffe says that is OK. 
Lianne Dalziel 
: How much did you get paid? 
RODNEY HIDE 
: The wicked witch from Christchurch can go on all she likes. The fact of the matter is that people see through it. John Tamihere said he would not take that $195000 but he did. Then he said he was not going to pay any tax on it because he had to feed the kids and pay the mortgage. 
Lianne Dalziel 
: The truth will come out. 
RODNEY HIDE 
: Oh the truth will come out! Well I am pleased that it will because it takes the Opposition on this side of the Chamber to bring the truth out. Lianne Dalziel did not know about the golden handshake. She said that she did not know about the tax not being paid but she will go back to her constituents and say that they have to pay their 33c or their 39c—but John Tamihere does not.