Smith Nick: Border Security Bill — In Committee 
Smith Nick: Border Security Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:618;Page:13745] 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH (National—Nelson) 
: 
 Is it not interesting that in the Chamber this afternoon not a single Government member has risen to his or her feet to defend what the Government is proposing to do in imposing a new tax on the wealth creators of New Zealand? If Government members really believe that what they are doing in this bill is right and proper even the Minister would feel the need to get up and defend the reason why exporters and importers should have to pay into the Government’s coffers an estimated $6 million a year. 
Shane Ardern 
: $16 million. 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: My colleague corrects me. An extra tax of $16 million per year is being imposed through this bill. I want to know why we have not heard a contribution from Mr Jim Anderton. He is the Father Christmas of industry. 
Hon Member 
: Who? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: He is a maiden member. I understand that some of my colleagues do not know who Mr Anderton is. But Mr Anderton has been going around New Zealand playing the role of Father Christmas and saying how much this Government supports industry. He is writing out cheques for this business and for that business and saying that this Government values exporters. I would like to know from Government members what is sound about Government policy when Mr Anderton runs around the country playing favourites and writing out cheques and the Minister of Customs imposes a new tax on every single exporter in New Zealand for the costs of security. 
Is it not interesting the number of times I have heard Labour members get to their feet and say security is a core function of the Government? They suggest that it is outrageous for instance that members on the Opposition side of the Chamber believe that if prisons can be better run by the private sector rather than by the State sector we should do that. We would still get the taxpayers to pay for prisons; it is just an issue of how their management is delivered. But Government members do not support that; they say that security is a core function of the Government. Why do they change their tune now? Why is it that when it comes to an issue of border security and dealing with the threat of terrorism suddenly this Government wants to pack up and send the bill to exporters? 
I also want to challenge the minor parties in this Chamber that will support sending the bill for these measures to industry. Will the United Future party support the Government in imposing a $16 million tax on all the businesses in New Zealand? 
Shane Ardern 
: The United Future members have certainly spoken against it. 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: Well let us just test their courage. What about the Green Party which is keen to spend— 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: I raise a point of order Madam Chairperson. I am not sure whether the speaker on his feet intended to do so but to imply a lack of courage or resolve is contrary to the Standing Orders. The member should know that and he should withdraw his comment. When he talked about testing people’s courage in my view that was contrary to the Standing Orders. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Ann Hartley) 
: The member should avoid that. 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: I simply say to the United Future party that its members cannot go around telling the exporters of Nelson that they are on the side of the economy and then jump into bed with the Government and vote for legislation that will impose a $16 million—[ 
Interruption 
] Why did the member not simply say that? 
Hon David Carter 
: He had to check. 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: He had to check. Mr Dunne the leader of the United Future party did not even know that party’s position. I hope the United Future members will join in this debate and I hope they will put pressure on the Government. 
I would be interested to know about the Green Party. What is the position of the Green Party? Its members spoke out against this legislation as well. Will they be voting for these provisions? 
Hon David Carter 
: Ian Ewen-Street put out a press release saying he was opposed to the bill. 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: It is getting even more interesting. We have Ian Ewen-Street of the Green Party saying he is opposed to the bill so I ask the Government where the majority is coming from. 
Hon David Carter 
: I think Ian Ewen-Street may have changed his mind. 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: I see. The Green Party has done a flip-flop in the tussle we see between United Future and the Greens for a relationship with Labour which gets more interesting by the day. The Green Party has done a U-turn. It together with every Labour member is going to dump on exporters and importers and impose this $16 million tax on them. 
My challenge to the Labour members is this: how can they possibly justify collecting a whole lot of taxpayers’ money giving it out in industry grants and then imposing this sort of new tax on industry? I challenge Government members to think again. I challenge them to justify why those who create the wealth for New Zealand—the fishers the farmers the forestry industry people and all those who work in the manufacturing of those products—should be sent the $16 million bill that has come as a consequence of Mr bin Laden and al-Qaeda. That is where this bill has come from—from those concerns with regard to security. Why should that cost be imposed on those who create wealth for New Zealand?