Jones Shane: Reserve Bank of New Zealand Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Jones Shane: Reserve Bank of New Zealand Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:634;Page:6023] 
SHANE JONES (Labour) 
: 
 Kia ora Mr Chairman. I stand to elaborate on one or three things that were said last week in relation to this Reserve Bank of New Zealand Amendment Bill and to correct the predictable and tired rhetoric from our colleague on the other side of the Chamber Mr Key on this very important bill. 
I am referring of course to Part 2. I know that he who rides a Shetland pony in the Waikato is soon to speak to this issue. However I think of particular importance to this portion of the bill is the reassurance that the Finance and Expenditure Committee was given—[ 
Interruption 
] OK I hear all the nags whinnying from the other side of the Chamber. It is not my fault that a number of them are preparing for a dress presentation—a dress circle foray—or something like that. They are debating amongst themselves what sort of double or trifecta they will back. Of course we have had one Mr English—an English horse—who got on the track too early. He had not actually had the experience of sitting in Opposition. It has taken him 5 years to try to find his stride. He has thrown everything on to the track—[ 
Interruption 
] 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Order! 
SHANE JONES 
: Yes Mr Chairman I think a couple of scratchings on the other side of the Chamber would be in order. It would make those members disappear from the track for a time while we on this side who are much more lucid and coherent contributors make our points. 
However moving right along I point out something those members said that was very very silly and actually unwise. They said earlier today that our friends from New Zealand First did not have any role in or did not contribute towards the great reforms and improvements relating to the racing industry. Of course as we on our side of the Chamber have intimated we are only too prepared to look after the interests of those who know what stable Government is about and who know how to look after their friends. 
I come back to the bill. We had a number of— 
Hon Member 
: Pay it back! 
SHANE JONES 
: On the question of paying it back I look forward to the next discussion we have about tax—in particular GST—before I hear any more comments about paying it back. What if every businessperson every horse owner or every stable owner in Te Tai Tokerau Matamata or anywhere else in Aotearoa could actually wander off gaily unimpeded tell their creditors to haera ra and not fulfil their tax obligations! What we will actually see is the old grey gelding Dr Brash bring back a bill to try to make his arrears go away. No no no! Those members can think again if they think the New Zealand public will not hear about that. The public will hear about it a great deal. It is as if National thinks it is watching a winner. But it will not be a winner; it will be like a horse on the way to the knackers’ yard. [ 
Interruption 
] The member should not worry. We will serve that up with great lashings. In fact it will be like the molasses served up in the Waikato. It will be like a bit of that old dry hay that our man Mr Tisch gives to his horses few of which have yet to yield much of a win. 
However let me go back to the very important content of this bill. Representatives from the industry came to the Finance and Expenditure Committee and reassured us that those who are regular participants in the fun and the betting frenzy at the various racetracks will not be disadvantaged. As I said earlier the people on our select committee are a relatively competent bunch. Competence sort of ebbs and flows depending on the issue but I can reassure the Committee that it is generally at the high-tide mark where the chair is concerned. We were reassured that the participants in the industry—the regular contributors—would not be disadvantaged. I agree with Mr Key that in the event that that does not come to pass it would be a very very dark day for the people who represented the industry at the select committee because we were approached and were reassured that that was the case. 
I will continue on. John Key said earlier today that there is no site in Otaki for people to expend energy in the pursuit of racing gains. Well if there is ever a reason why our man Mr Key needs to broaden his current level of interest and address his very shallow level of experience in what is happening up and down the country and to come out of the money rooms then it is to find out that Otaki is a very illustrious site in terms of the racing industry—of racing pedigree—and that the site belongs to Ngati Raukawa. Kia ora tatou.