Genter Julie AnneHon JULIE ANNE GENTER (Green): The Green Party supports the bill. It takes some very small steps in a good direction. I guess the bigger picture of all of this is as we face an increasingly dangerous climate crisis and a risk of ecological collapse—which I know is not nice to hear about but we actually have to confront that truth so that we can take the steps to stop it—we need to have a paradigm shift in how we approach Government policy. Since the 1980s and 90s there's been this dominant ideology of neutral tax system blah blah blah which isn't neutral at all and has led to increasing inequality in our country and at the same time in some small ways has actually subsidised fossil fuel high-emitting cars and single-occupant car trips at peak commute time.So one of the great measures in this bill is thanks to the input of the Green Party who's been campaigning on this for more than a decade we finally even up the playing field when it comes to fringe benefit tax so that employers can provide support for those to use public transport or micro-mobility for their commuting and get some tax advantage from that which makes sense because there's huge public benefits to it—huge public benefits. We're talking less congestion; fewer cars on the road or lower-emitting cars; healthier people; cleaner air—win-win. But up until now we haven't been able to have that because of that dominant ideology I spoke about earlier that supposedly New Zealand's neutral tax system is the envy of the world when in truth we're lagging far behind using the sensible evidence-based public policy tools that we need to support the outcomes the community desperately wants because the community does want a transport system that works they do want to protect the climate and the environment and they do actually want to live in a more equal society.Previously the Green Party had argued for public transport passes electric vehicles and micro-mobility vehicles to be exempt from fringe benefit tax. The draft of this bill the first draft included the exemption for public transport passes but nothing else. But through the select committee process we saw huge people power: over 400 people and organisations came and submitted in favour of extending that exemption to active transport like bikes scooters e-bikes e-scooters and then at the very eleventh hour the Government did pick that up. So we were glad to see that and this is why the next Government has to have far more Greens in it so that we can get some of these sensible policy changes that will actually support the outcomes that people want.Finally on the debate from the National Party and the others on this side of the House: classic you know just lowest common denominator campaigning against any sensible changes to make our tax system fairer which is really irresponsible and unnecessary at this point in the debate. As the Labour Ministers and members have said it is actually fair that online platforms face the same GST that our local businesses here in New Zealand face. That's just fair. I mean if something is providing or facilitating a good and service let it be treated as such and that's what's happening in this.I heard some people speaking about interest deductibility. I think most New Zealanders would agree that is a very fair policy. It isn't fair that New Zealanders trying to buy their own house don't have interest deductibility but those who are buying a rental property where they're going to make huge mostly untaxed capital gains were getting this extra benefit of being able to deduct interest as an expense. That's an example of like where the system was screwed up you know and obviously rather than make it fairer making it something that works for people and even the economy the National and ACT parties just want to defend the status quo. You know they wouldn't want to change the system—as long as it allows the rich to get richer they're going to defend it. And you know that's a large part of the reason we're in this terrible situation.And I hear them—oh the crocodile tears for the high rents! I welcome the National and ACT parties' support for an immediate rent freeze and rent controls. Put your money where your mouth is. Why don't you support a rent freeze if you care about the renters? Oh I know—every policy you've ever put in place is about protecting the rich landed gentry to get richer off their rentier activities because you're basically a bunch of feudalists. Sorry Madam Speaker not you but the National Party and the ACT Party.But yes let's have a fairer tax system. Let's protect the renters. I look forward to every party in this House coming in behind an immediate rent freeze while we catch up with a public house building that languished under the National Government. There should've been more public housing built following the global financial crisis there should've been support for more housing supply added then; they failed to do it. That's why there's a lack of housing right now and until we have that increase in supply let's have a rent freeze. Otherwise you know who they're here to represent and why they receive the donations from the very richest New Zealanders—you know the billionaires who want to keep getting richer. When is it enough? Honestly when is it enough for you?The Green Party supports the bill after our excellent contribution which will mean that employers can support those who would like e-bikes or to provide public transport passes for commutes to work. We will continue to bring constructive policy solutions to this House. Thank you.