6. GST—Online ShoppingHon JUDITH COLLINS (National—Papakura) to the Minister of RevenueGST—Online ShoppingHon JUDITH COLLINS (National—Papakura): To the Minister of Revenue—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: And an extra supplementary question. Thank you Mr Lees-Galloway.6. Hon JUDITH COLLINS (National—Papakura) to the Minister of Revenue: Does he stand by all his reported statements about the collection of GST on low-value goods purchased from offshore? Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance) on behalf of the Minister of Revenue: Mr Speaker—[Interruption] I know you're excited. I stand by my statement that the previous Government did not do enough about the unfair tax advantage given to overseas companies against New Zealand small businesses. I also stand by my statement in response to the question on whether I would pick up and run" with the work that had been started that I "absolutely will do that." In my ambition to get on with this work I may have got a little ahead of myself in response to further questions. Hon Judith Collins: Did he consult with the Minister of Finance on the issue of GST on offshore low-value goods before announcing it so confidently yesterday morning; and if so when?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The Minister speaks often with the Minister of Finance and we often discuss how it is that we could make the tax system fairer after nine years of Government neglect.Hon Members: He didn't answer the question.Mr SPEAKER: No I'm—Hon Dr Nick Smith: He did not answer the question.Mr SPEAKER: Dr Smith you know if you'd let me make the rulings it would make the place run a bit more smoothly. In this particular case Dr Smith is right. The question was not addressed to my satisfaction and the Minister of Revenue will have another go.Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: There have been discussions about the policy in question.Hon Member: When?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: There have been discussions about the policy in question. The Minister didn't speak to the Minister of Finance immediately before his interview.Hon Judith Collins: Who is correct the Minister of Revenue who said yesterday that the Government was "absolutely" going to add GST on low-value imported goods or the Minister of Finance who said yesterday that the Government is only looking at the issue?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: What the Minister said was in a conversation on Newstalk ZB following on from the comments of the Hon Steven Joyce who said "the good stuff is at least slightly trickier but actually I think it is a viable solution." The Minister was then asked "Presumably you'll pick up and run with this Stuart" and he said "As the revenue Minister absolutely."Hon Judith Collins: So if the public can't believe him when he says "absolutely" when can they?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The public can believe the Minister when he says that he is absolutely committed to going ahead with this policy. Not unlike that member he is ambitious.Hon Judith Collins: Does he now realise that workable changes to the collection of GST on low-value imported goods are just a little bit more complicated than his once-over-lightly approach might suggest?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: There is no once-over-lightly process at all. We are absolutely committed to getting on with the job of doing this work that the previous Government found so tricky.Hon Judith Collins: Why did he decline all interviews yesterday and not turn up to his planned media briefing on this very issue after he had so confidently stated that he would absolutely bring in GST on low-value goods purchased offshore?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The matter had been adequately dealt with by his earlier comments.Mr SPEAKER: Before we go to question No. 7 I am going to indicate because this matter has been the subject of a personal explanation today that I will be a bit more flexible on the supplementaries than I might otherwise have been. Otherwise it's a bit unfair on the member asking the question."