Cosgrove Clayton: Taxation (Urgent Measures and Annual Rates) Bill — In Committee 
Cosgrove Clayton: Taxation (Urgent Measures and Annual Rates) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:651;Page:185] 
Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE (Labour—Waimakariri) 
: 
 Earlier in the debate I took out a copy of the National Party’s taxation policy. In referring to this part of the bill I note it confirms the tax rates going forward for 2009-10. I reflect on Dr Cullen’s words and those of my colleagues Mr Parker and Mr Cunliffe when they talked about fairness. I look back at the National Party’s weighty document of propaganda and recall how all the National members—some soon to give their maiden speeches some from Maori constituencies as well; and now supported aided and abetted totally sycophantically by the Maori Party—went around and said National knew that New Zealanders wanted a tax system that was fair. I reckon we could probably all sign up to that; we all say we want a tax system that is fair. The problem lies in the definition of fairness. If members look at the confirmation of these rates they will see that what we would define as fair and what most ordinary New Zealanders would define as fair is not something that the National Party defines as fair. 
National Party members told everybody before the election not about these rates and how they would be confirmed today but that the tax system would be fair. The document also states: “National’s tax package will give households confidence and some cash in their back pockets.” I just ask as the Government confirms these tax rates what is fair about what we have heard today when for instance a person with no children and an income of $23999 a year will get nothing? I wonder what Mrs Turia and Ms Parata the new member who will purport I suspect to represent a Maori constituency will say to their constituents when they go back to the marae. As the National Party confirms these rates they know that those at the very bottom will get no assistance at all or will end up paying more tax than they currently pay. I wonder how those members will respond when somebody on the marae stands up probably quotes this document and asks Ms Parata or Mrs Turia: “How do you define fairness?” 
To be charitable to the Maori Party—let us be a little bit charitable—maybe it got sucked in by this bill. Maybe the Maori Party members did not read it or it was not explained; maybe they were hoodwinked or maybe they were not told. Let us be as charitable as we can. But they have been told today and they were told yesterday about this measure; it has been explained over and over again. What will be etched in my memory is the face—and I have some sympathy for him—of poor old Hone Harawira as he buried himself behind the desk yesterday and put up his hand to vote with the National Party— 
Hon David Cunliffe 
: Trembling! 
Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE 
: —knowing that morally this is wrong. He knows that all the constituents he works for—and I am told he is a damn hard-working MP and is respected as Mr Mallard said last night—will be sold out by this measure in toto. I am going to find the situation very interesting as we deal with the confirmation of these rates when some of the Maori members go back to their marae and their communities and somehow explain this measure to them. It is going to be an interesting course of events. 
It shows me that this is a traditional National Party move: to have an election promise fairness equity aspiration love peace and happiness to all and then to do people over—put the sword into them and slash at the most vulnerable part of our communities. The National members are doing that before Christmas under urgency with no select committee scrutiny in the vain hope that people are tired of politics. They hope people will want to get out to the barbecue and go to the beach with the family to have a few sausages play a bit of golf or whatever else and be with their kids and will not concentrate on politics. They hope and pray that our communities are thick. Well I say our communities are not thick and when people open their pay packets in the months and years to come and when they try to do some good for their children and their loved ones— 
Chris Tremain 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. Clause 29 is a very narrow clause. The member is an experienced speaker. He is way outside the scope of clause 29 which is very narrow. 
Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE 
: Speaking to the point of order I have consistently referred to the confirmation of the tax rates and I am now explaining the consequences of confirming them. That is in order. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: The Hon Clayton Cosgrove. 
Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE 
: Thank you very much. The National members may not like that or course. They do not like to hear that. They do not like it when Dr Cullen repeats that. A couple of them over there grin and laugh and they do not like it when we repeat what the consequences of the actions taken in this Parliament over the next few hours will be. They can jeer and they can laugh. Mr Dunne is a straw man who blows with the breeze—the great man of common sense. I suspect that deep down—although he has his backside in the LTD I have respect for the member—even he knows this is wrong. Even he knows this is wrong deep down. 
It is very interesting I say again as we confirm these rates that not one member in the National Party has contradicted Dr Cullen me David Cunliffe Mr Mallard or Mr Parker when we have stood up and given case after case of situations where injustice will occur as a result of confirming these rates. Not one of them has contradicted that. I would have thought that if we were wrong OK we were wrong. But the National members should tell us that give us the evidence stand up and justify their position. They cannot do so; they will not do so. They have no evidence. I look forward to holding up this document around the country and inviting people to say whether in their communities they have been treated with fairness with dignity and with respect. Have they had their aspirations warmed and supported and have they chosen a brighter future when those who need some dough and some help are being sold out by those guys over there? 
Debate interrupted.