Watts SimonSIMON WATTS (National—North Shore): Thank you very much Madam Chair. I want to go back to the Minister's statements before because the only explanation that he could articulate in regards to why the Government is not using this opportunity to adjust the annual rates of income tax in Part 1 of this bill is because there or thereabouts New Zealand is in the pack with other OECD countries right? That is the only real reason that he could stump up with in this committee stage. And what that fails to acknowledge is that Kiwis are hurting across this country right now and this Government is responsible for that hurt. This Government's expenditure is driving up the cost of living crisis that those Kiwis are facing. And this Government have an opportunity today right here to make adjustments to the annual rates of income tax that would inflation-adjust these rates to put those dollars back in the pockets of hard-working Kiwis. But all the Minister can come up with is some lovely statistics about OECD countries which is abdicating responsibility from the fact that his Government is responsible for the setting of rates and they have the ability here and now to be able to put that benefit back in the pocket of hard-working Kiwis. But the answer to that is No we're not willing to go there. We're not willing to do that because we're in the pack with every other country in the world blinded to the reality of Kiwis at home around this country that are hurting as a result of this cost of living crisis." Why will this Minister not use the opportunity sitting in front of him today in regards to updating of the annual income tax rate? Why will the Minister not use this opportunity to do what is the right thing to put that benefit back in the pockets of hard-working Kiwis? And when will the Minister—if he's not going to do it today—look to make those adjustments in tax brackets for Kiwis across this country so that middle income New Zealand in particular who are heavily squeezed at the moment as a result of increasing costs across the board will actually get that benefit?The other aspect in regards to what the Prime Minister noted in question time today is very relevant. The Hon Michael Woodhouse raised this as well because the Prime Minister basically gave an insight. He said that this was something that was—or potentially was—being considered. And that's very interesting because that seems to be in contrast to what the Minister in the chair has just said to us. So I acknowledge that sometimes communication is a little bit lax on that side of the House between the left hand and the right hand but I'll give the Minister an opportunity to jump in because you know I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they didn't have a chat in the hallway on the way down to question time today about the change in policy but the way that these policies are being burnt on a bonfire at the moment by this Government it's no surprise that probably it's hard to keep up with this race. But if the Minister could answer the question in regards to why and when will the Prime Minister be announcing a reassessment or a refresh of the tax rates that would be much obliged. Thank you Madam Chair."