Wang Kenneth: Taxation (Annual Rates Venture Capital and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill — In Committee Procedure 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Wang Kenneth: Taxation (Annual Rates Venture Capital and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill — In Committee Procedure 
[Sitting date: 14 December 2004. Volume:622;Page:17812. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
KENNETH WANG (ACT) 
: 
 It is quite ironic that members all sit here at the end of the year talking about tax while the Government sits on a record high tax revenue under its feet. I am probably in a unique position in talking about this issue because I am the newest MP coming from the bottom end of this society as I regard myself as a hard-working New Zealander. We are talking about a tax bill that applies to every New Zealander who has an income. It is ironic that we are talking about a high tax rate of 39c in the dollar applying to everyone earning above $60000 a year in income. We regard that as a high income but I regard it as a petty income because by international standards that is not high. Compared with our neighbour NZ$60000 by the exchange rate would probably go down to about $50000. If any of us relied on that income to support the average family of four to pay for everything from household costs power water rental costs kids’ school costs food and clothes we would know that what was regarded as the high salary level was really a petty amount. 
From my personal experience I know how hard every dad and mum works to support the family household. I know how hard it is. I know they desperately need their reward back in their own hands rather than having to wait until the Government hands it out. I know that having the Government handing it out has its own criteria. When those people desperately need a handout they have to apply for it. Well would they get anything? That would be determined by the Government’s agenda. That is a political agenda and it is according to the Government’s own wish which is to buy the vote during the term and hope that it will win another term. 
I have kids. I have a family and particularly I know my staff and I know my neighbour. My neighbour is a typical working-class Indian. He is working full time supporting his family. He has an income of very little. He told me that he wished he could earn more and keep more but it is out of his hands. 
Perhaps members still remember one of the stories that I quoted in my maiden speech. A taxi driver was working 12 hours a day and 60 hours a week and his words were: “Where’s the money? The Government is sitting on a big pot of money and it’s not in my pocket.” His request was: “Please don’t take it away. Let me keep it.” Well I am the person coming fresh from this society and from every working family in our society. I bring their request to this Chamber directly to all of the MPs who will vote on this bill. I congratulate United Future. Good on you for standing on your feet to speak on your amendment but I do have a question for you. If your amendment does not go through will you still support this bill? 
The CHAIRPERSON (Hon Clem Simich) 
: The member must not refer to the Chair. 
KENNETH WANG 
: I would say that the ACT party’s flat tax or universal tax cut to both company and personal income tax is the remedy to really resolve this whole issue.