Cosgrove Clayton: Third Readings 
Cosgrove Clayton: Third Readings 
[Volume:607;Page:4341] 
CLAYTON COSGROVE (NZ Labour—Waimakariri) 
: 
 I rise to support this legislation. This is the first taxation legislation that the new Finance and Expenditure Committee in this term of Parliament has put through. I thank committee members from all parties in the House—even the National Party—for the valued contributions that they did make. Those contributions were far more valued than what we saw through that despicable character over there on the Opposition benches in his despicable speech. 
The facts are that since 1939 there has been a special rate of tax for Maori authorities. Under National it was 25 percent. If National members want to engage in their speeches of rage here double standard though they are why did Mr English and the previous National Government not change the special rate during their 9 years in Government if they were as philosophically opposed to the special rate as that? They did not change the rate. Why has there been a special rate for Maori authorities since 1939? It is not based on race and is not because the beneficiaries of those authorities are Maori; it is because the scheme of arrangement with their asset management is one that has special restrictions. For instance the assets of Maori authorities are communally owned. Even those more commercially savvy than I am would realise that one cannot sell with any degree of freedom communally owned assets. 
The special tax rate has been around since 1939 and that crew over there in the Opposition now think they can get up and bluff the people of New Zealand. There is no moral authority in any of those speeches—none! If National had wanted to change the special taxation rate and was as philosophically opposed as that to it it could have done so during its 9 years in Government. I find it very interesting that throughout this debate to my knowledge the real finance spokesperson of the National Party has not taken a call. Instead David Carter has taken a call and I suspect I know why that was. Dr Brash the National Party’s finance spokesperson is in a different party from me but I believe he does have a shred of decency. I believe that deep down he does have some honour. He knows that this legislation is right because it is based not on race but on the restrictions that occur through the scheme of arrangement that Maori authorities have in respect of their asset management. I simply say that if the National Party feels that the next election will be won by beating Maori over the head and beating racially-based groups over the head—as it is doing now—then it has another think coming. Mr Ryall talks about our party’s poll ratings going down. After that speech those snide remarks and that lack of dignity it will be the National Party’s poll ratings that go down. [ 
Interruption 
] I will not respond to my colleague. 
I finish by saying that 90 percent of Maori earn less than $38000 a year and therefore pay tax at that 19.5 percent rate anyway. If they earn over that amount then a taxation wash-up occurs and of course they will pay the same rate of income tax as everybody else. So I conclude by saying that this legislation is built on firm principled foundations and that for Opposition members to get up and make some of the most racist speeches I have ever heard in my life is I think despicable and dishonourable in this House. I support the legislation. 
Hon Bill English 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. That member may be a younger member but he knows that he cannot use that language in respect of any member in this House. He should be required to withdraw and apologise. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: On the matter of the last phrase I will ask the member to withdraw and apologise. 
CLAYTON COSGROVE 
: I withdraw and apologise. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I call Metiria Turei. The Greens have not had a call.