Dunne Peter: Taxation (Annual Rates Trans-Tasman Savings Portability KiwiSaver and Remedial Matters) Bill — In Committee 
Dunne Peter: Taxation (Annual Rates Trans-Tasman Savings Portability KiwiSaver and Remedial Matters) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:666;Page:13462] 
Hon PETER DUNNE (Minister of Revenue) 
: 
 As I listened to that speech I was reminded of a comment that Winston Churchill once made about Aneurin Bevan in the House of Commons. He said to him: “One member should not develop more indignation than he can contain.” What we saw from the Leader of the Opposition was extraordinary huff and puff about the Taxation (Annual Rates Trans-Tasman Savings Portability KiwiSaver and Remedial Matters) Bill. The only problem with his comments was that they were at direct variance with everything his colleagues had been saying in this Chamber for the last hour and a half. If one had just come into the debate or switched on one’s television or radio one would assume from the Leader of the Opposition’s comments that Labour would vote against this bill. But every single one of its speakers to date has been at pains to point out his or her support for the legislation. 
The attitude of the Leader of the Opposition seems totally at variance with his colleagues. But there were some great gems during his remarks. He objected to forthcoming property taxes that the Government is allegedly about to levy. Well what we are doing is removing the capacity for people to depreciate property under certain circumstances. But we are not doing what every Labour speaker has failed to deny this morning is in their intent and that is bring in a capital gains tax and a land tax to punish investors. We heard the Leader of the Opposition say that there is some dastardly plan afoot on the Government’s side to bring in a property tax although his colleagues are standing here this morning one after the other criticising the Government for having ruled out a land tax and a capital gains tax. He is simply out of touch with the reality of his own side let alone the attitude of the rest of New Zealanders. 
The Leader of the Opposition then complained about the fact that our GST is allegedly the fourth-highest consumption tax in the world. But we heard nothing in his speech and no amendment has been moved by his party to date to give effect to one of the other great policies—taking GST off fresh fruit and vegetables which he has been touting of late. If this is the fourth-highest consumption tax in the world and if people are suffering to the extent that he claims then I thought he would have moved his pet amendment today so that the Committee would have had a chance to consider it—but absolutely not. In fact the professions of support from his colleagues for this legislation continue unabated. 
The Leader of the Opposition cannot have it two ways. He cannot come down here and make a strong and vigorous speech opposing the legislation while his colleagues on the Opposition benches continue to get up one after the other and profess their support for it and for the Government’s amendments as being user-friendly and just what is needed to make the measure work more effectively. 
One can only draw some internal conclusions about the state of the Leader of the Opposition’s party from those remarks. One can also say that they make no contribution whatsoever to the quality of this debate. They make no contribution to the issues that are being put before the Committee today. These measures which have been worked through by the GST Advisory Panel and are in response to submissions received from the general public are positive and beneficial and it is no wonder that they are supported by the Labour members opposite. It is just a great pity that none of the Labour members over there have sought to inform their leader of the position that their party is taking. As a consequence the Leader of the Opposition comes in here stands exposed—wrong speech wrong occasion—and the reality is that his colleagues will continue to support this bill. His colleagues will continue as they have all said during the number of calls they have had to date to profess their support for the bill’s provisions. Maybe someone should tell the Leader of the Opposition where his party stands.