Bridges Simon: Taxation (International Investment and Remedial Matters) Bill — In Committee 
Bridges Simon: Taxation (International Investment and Remedial Matters) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:677;Page:457] 
SIMON BRIDGES (National—Tauranga) 
: 
 I just want to comment on some of the speeches and the points made and Andrew Williams’ speech. He was doing so well until that last scurrilous attack on the National Party. Prior to that he was supporting the Taxation (International Investment and Remedial Matters) Bill. I thought that in what I understand was one of his first speeches after his maiden speech he gave a very lucid speech and I know that Barbara Stewart the real leader of New Zealand First—the puppetmaster within New Zealand First—will be watching Andrew Williams and will be thinking very carefully about giving you a question at question time soon.  
I turn now to Clayton Cosgrove because speaking of scurrilous that was a scurrilous attack he made on John Hayes the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in this Parliament.  
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. I just want to withdraw and apologise. I want to give you a commitment that I will never praise John Hayes in this Chamber again.  
SIMON BRIDGES 
: John Hayes has been a wonderful contributor on economic matters and tax matters in the Finance and Expenditure Committee.  
David Clark gave a speech and I was very disappointed in David Clark.  
Grant Robertson 
: Are you a teacher? Are you giving a report card or are you actually going to give a speech?  
SIMON BRIDGES 
: Basically. I will come to the bill—I will come to the bill. But David Clark in his contribution was very disappointing. He had no enthusiasm for this bill. I think he just wanted to get on his feet after his maiden speech. If “elegant” is the word of the week I thought his “skinning the cat” phrase was entirely inelegant and not something that the animal lovers of New Zealand like to hear in this Parliament.  
Like some of the members opposite this bill may be dull but it is worthy. I do say “dull” because you know actually—as I said in my Address in Reply speech—it is not some big bang we need in the economy; it is incremental work minor steps time after time and this bill is that. It makes a contribution to our tax regime in New Zealand and it is worthy.  
As I explained and made clear in my speech in the first reading of this bill in this House what it means when we clear away the jargon—and I appreciate there is a bit more to it than this—is that New Zealand businesses overseas when they are in foreign countries investing are not penalised and they are not double taxed and that has got to be a good thing for growing New Zealand and growing our interests overseas.  
So this bill as I say like some of the members opposite— 
Hon David Cunliffe 
: Have you read it? 
SIMON BRIDGES 
: —is dull but worthy. I have read it; I read it prior to the first reading. I was not on the Finance and Expenditure Committee when it considered this but I did read it. It is dull but worthy and it does bring us into line with international tax regimes and what is happening in other countries. And so I am very happy at this Committee stage when we are taking all the parts as one to globally support this bill.