12. Question No. 12—Small BusinessHon JACQUI DEAN (National—Waitaki) to the Minister for Small BusinessQuestion No. 12—Small Business12. Hon JACQUI DEAN (National—Waitaki) to the Minister for Small Business: Does he stand by all his statements and actions?Hon DAVID PARKER (Minister for Economic Development) on behalf of the Minister for Small Business: Yes.Hon Jacqui Dean: Then is the Minister saying he didn't receive an email from a small-business owner on Thursday morning before question time on the capital gains tax which said A capital gains tax on the sale of a small business could be particularly devastating to small-business owners who remain the backbone of the New Zealand economy."?Hon DAVID PARKER: That was not the member's question last week. I of course receive correspondence as the revenue Minister. The member needs to better understand the Standing Orders.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Well in that case you should have said you were speaking on behalf of the Minister if you're such a clever fellow.SPEAKER: Come on come on—which of you?Hon Jacqui Dean: Does he also recall hearing from a small-business owner who said "Not only do you not listen to us; you and your party don't seem to value the contribution we make to New Zealand's economy."?Hon DAVID PARKER: On behalf of the Minister I haven't seen that particular statement but I do know that small-business owners are predominantly middle-income earners. I do know that they do better under Labour-led Governments because economic growth under Labour coalitions is on average since World War II higher than growth under National-led Governments.Hon Jacqui Dean: Is he then concerned about the impact of a capital gains tax on a small business?Hon DAVID PARKER: It's settled economic theory that distortions in the tax system which encourage speculation instead of investment in productive businesses including small businesses hinder productive economic outcome. But any hypothetical changes to the tax system are subject to both coalition discussions and wider consultation and no decisions have been made. It pains the member to know that economic growth for small businesses is higher under Labour coalitions than under National.Hon Jacqui Dean: Has he been alerted to any negative impacts on small business in the many emails he has received?Hon DAVID PARKER: On behalf of the Minister I'm advised that the emails that he has received as Minister of Revenue include a range of perspectives; many of them know that Labour delivers higher growth rates for the economy than National coalitions have done on average since World War II. It is a long-term record of failure.Hon Jacqui Dean: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Minister didn't address my question. I asked: had he been alerted to any negative impacts on small business—SPEAKER: I will ask the Minister to—Hon DAVID PARKER: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I actually said I hadn't read that particular piece of correspondence on behalf of the Minister.SPEAKER: Well it was a question of "any" and the member better answer on behalf of the Minister again.Hon DAVID PARKER: On behalf of the Minister acting on his behalf I have not read any correspondence that has been negative in the way the member suggests and I am aware that since World War II economic growth rates under Labour have averaged higher than under National.SPEAKER: OK OK. That's getting to the point of tedious repetition.Hon DAVID PARKER: Point of order sir—so had the question.SPEAKER: Mr Parker will stand withdraw and apologise.Hon DAVID PARKER: I withdraw and apologise.Hon Jacqui Dean: Is the Minister confirming then—does he stand by his statement just now that he has received no correspondence from small-business owners on any negative impacts of a capital gains tax?Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. This line of questioning goes something like this: about impacts being received—or notice of impacts being received by the Government. Now the fact is we all know that on 21 February the report was put out to the public of this country for consultation. There cannot have been any impacts—Hon Simon Bridges: He doesn't like it.Rt Hon Winston Peters: —and won't be any until a decision is made on the tax and that member should be stopped from just wasting this House's time.SPEAKER: OK. I've got about four things to deal with now. The first is that the Hon Simon Bridges should know that when a point of order is being made—Hon Simon Bridges: It was frivolous.SPEAKER: I'm very very tempted—when I'm reprimanding the member he will be silent he will not interject and he will not reflect on the ruling that I'm making. I'm very tempted—other than the fact that there's a matter of some interest to him coming up—he's very lucky not to be tossed and given his recent record not to be named. He will stand withdraw and apologise twice.Hon Simon Bridges: I withdraw and apologise. I withdraw and apologise. I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. My submission: the point made by the Rt Hon Winston Peters was both frivolous and likely to bring the House into disrepute and disorder. He was using it as a thinly veiled attack on the Opposition. It was clearly a debating point. He's been here a very long time. He should know all that.SPEAKER: And the member has been here now about a decade and should know that that was a very reasonable response to the point of order. If he'd made it standing up after the right honourable gentleman had finished it would have had a lot more credibility rather than from his seat by way of interjection. I'm not going to deal with the matter that Winston Peters raised. I am going to ask Jacqui Dean to ask her question again to remind me of the reason why I was going to rule it out.Hon Jacqui Dean: Is the Minister now confirming that as he just told the House he has received no negative feedback—SPEAKER: I remember now. The member will resume her seat. That's not what the Minister told the House.Hon Jacqui Dean: Did the informal briefing he received from the revenue Minister include any mention of receiving any negative impacts of the capital gains tax on small business?Hon DAVID PARKER: On behalf of the Minister for Small Business I don't know the answer to that question. If she wants to put down an answer in writing I'm sure it can be answered.SPEAKER: Even a question in writing."