Ryall Tony: Taxation (Personal Tax Cuts Annual Rates and Remedial Matters) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee 
Ryall Tony: Taxation (Personal Tax Cuts Annual Rates and Remedial Matters) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee 
[Volume:647;Page:16295] 
Hon TONY RYALL (National—Bay of Plenty) 
: 
 What an incredible day! After 9 long years of endless reasons why the people of New Zealand did not deserve a tax cut the Labour Government in its last dying moments brings forward legislation to provide tax cuts for New Zealanders. Sure the tax cuts will not make the difference that those of a National Government would offer but they are still tax cuts. 
I am not afraid to say the phrase “tax cuts” unlike the people opposite. Did members notice how quickly Michael Cullen spoke when giving the Budget speech earlier today? As Bill English said he spat out his speech because he could not stand the taste of tax cuts. He did not want to give those tax cuts. This Budget should not be called the 2008 Budget; it should be called the 2008 “Begrudge It” because Cullen and Clark did not want to give a tax cut to the hard-working people of New Zealand. Neither do the lefties in the Labour Party who in the debate earlier could not bring themselves to say “tax cuts”. 
Hon Bill English 
: Because they believed Dr Cullen. 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: Ruth Dyson believed Dr Cullen yes. She spoke for 9¾ minutes without saying “tax cuts” and it was only when National chipped in that she in the last few seconds actually said it very quickly. That is what Ruth Dyson did and we have seen it from leftie member after leftie member opposite. They do not believe in these tax cuts. They are a cynical political ploy from a Government that told the country for 9 years that it could not afford tax cuts. But when the Government saw the oblivion that comes from ignoring the people for 9 years all of a sudden there were tax cuts. The Government did not want to give those tax cuts; it is giving them grudgingly. This is the 2008 “Begrudge It” from Michael Cullen. 
What an incredible speech from Michael Cullen. Did members hear it? He talked about the fact that he was the longest-serving Minister of Finance that he has been the Minister of Finance for 9 years and that no one else has given as many Budgets as he has except for Peter Fraser. I say to Mr Cullen that when he starts talking about his place in history he is history. I will tell members what Michael Cullen’s history will show. He is the guy who mucked up the rescue of Air New Zealand and actually had to have the Government buy it back. He is the guy who almost lost Labour the 2005 election. He is such a good political strategist that he almost lost Labour the 2005 election. He is such a good Minister of Finance that every time he goes on television the Labour Party dips in the polls. Every time he goes on television Labour dips in the polls because he has become the symbol of Labour’s arrogance and disregard for the needs of New Zealanders. 
Did Michael Cullen front one television talk show on the Budget tonight? He did not front one. Labour knows that Michael Cullen is now the most disliked politician in this country. Every time he is on television Labour’s poll rating drops. Every time he is on television its support drops. Michael Cullen has spent 9 years taxing the life out of New Zealanders and telling them that this country cannot afford tax cuts. He said that if there were tax cuts of $1 billion or $2 billion doctors and nurses would have to be sacked. 
Chris Tremain 
: Police. 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: The police—everything. Well I ask Dr Cullen who is getting the chop tomorrow. None of those doctors nurses or police officers are getting the chop because what he was saying was rubbish. New Zealanders knew that Michael Cullen was talking a whole lot of rubbish when he said they could not have tax cuts. That is what New Zealanders around New Zealand are saying tonight about this Labour Party opposite.