McClay Todd: Taxation (Budget Tax Measures) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee 
McClay Todd: Taxation (Budget Tax Measures) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee 
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TODD McCLAY (National—Rotorua) 
: 
 After the previous speaker all I can say is “Thank goodness for platform shoes.” My mother could see that member speaking from where she was but without his shoes she would not have seen him. 
This is a great debate on the Taxation (Budget Tax Measures) Bill in the Committee stage. I have been sitting here quietly listening to the debate and I say to the members opposite that they are whingers whiners and woolly left-wing liberals. They are socialists dressed up and pretending to be liberals. They are excuse makers they are complainers and they are better off over there on the other side of this Chamber. They are like a group of 4-year-old girls who are crying and looking for their comforters because they are not big enough to handle the deepest recession New Zealand has faced in 60 years. New Zealand is better off because those members are over there. They were a fair-weather Government and now the storm is here they are sadly absent. They have no ideas; they are all excuses. New Zealanders are glad to see the back of them and absolutely so is this Parliament. The pretence that those members are worried about New Zealanders has been too little too late. 
This Government is about delivering for New Zealanders and today with Bill English a great Minister of Finance we have delivered 600 more police and at least 200 more correction officers to make New Zealand and New Zealanders safer. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch) 
: Part 1. 
TODD McCLAY 
: This is all about Part 1. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch) 
: Part 1 is about tax cuts. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: Mr Chairman how do you know what he’s saying? 
The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch) 
: Thank you for that comment. Look I invite the member to concentrate. This debate is limited to parts and this part is about personal tax cuts. I ask the member to continue in that vein. Thank you. 
TODD McCLAY 
: Thank you very much Mr Chairperson. I still have time left so I am happy to speak more slowly for the sake of my great friend the former member for Otaki—the defeated and failed member for Otaki. I thank the former Minister. 
This bill is about tax cuts. In a very difficult economic time why have we not been able to deliver tax cuts in following years? It is so that we can deliver 600 more police for New Zealanders and more than 200 corrections staff to make New Zealand safer. It is so that our police can have Tasers on the streets—again to make New Zealand safer. These are all funded promises that have been delivered today. That is why this bill is saying tax cuts in the coming years will be more difficult. 
What about health—doctors nurses operations and aged-care services? There will be $3 billion extra over the next 4 years to deliver for front-line health service in New Zealand. Where is that piece of paper members had before? I ask members to hold it up for me again; I want to see it. It has gone now. Oh there it is. Could the member move that a little further to the left as the voice of that member is too much—at least the people of New Zealand watching TV will not then see the member’s face as the voice and the face together are far too much. 
Hon Damien O’Connor 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. Sorry but as the newest member in the Chamber I would just like a clarification of the Standing Orders. I was of the understanding that there is a Standing Order relating to the reading of speeches in the Chamber. I would just like to check that that member is not reading. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch) 
: No there is no such Standing Order. 
TODD McCLAY 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. The member is right in that I am one of the members on this side of the Chamber who compared with members on that side can actually read. But I was not reading— 
The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch) 
: No no that is not a point of order. The member will continue; he has 1 minute and 35 seconds to go. 
TODD McCLAY 
: Thank you Mr Chairman. As I have a few moments left I confirm that yes on this side of the Chamber we can read; I am sure that on the other side members cannot. 
I will come to a conclusion—well I do not have to but I will none the less. This is the deepest recession in 60 years. That is why tax cuts are not going ahead. This is a Budget to get New Zealand through a downturn. That is why tax cuts cannot go ahead. It is about improving growth and productivity. That is why those tax cuts cannot go ahead. The Budget is to keep New Zealand on the front foot. Standard and Poor’s recognised that today. New Zealand recognised it today. I say to members opposite that they should wake up give up get ready for more tomorrow and recognise it today as well.