Dunne Peter: Appropriation (2007/08 Estimates) Bill — Third Reading Imprest Supply Debate 
Dunne Peter: Appropriation (2007/08 Estimates) Bill — Third Reading Imprest Supply Debate 
[Volume:641;Page:11075] 
Hon PETER DUNNE (Leader—United Future) 
: 
 There are some things in this Budget that I am very proud of from United Future’s point of view that I want to highlight this afternoon and in so doing pick up the challenge that was implicit in the previous speaker’s address. 
I am proud of the fact that as a result of our confidence and supply agreement we have delivered the biggest business tax cut since the 1980s. It is $3.4 billion over the next 4 years that will boost productivity and will retain New Zealand’s competitiveness with its nearest trading partner Australia. I am proud of the fact that as a result of that change and the significant changes to savings vehicles’ taxation arrangements as well we now have a top business tax rate of 30c in the dollar and for a number of savings vehicles the rate is 30c in the dollar as well. That will encourage people to invest more and to save more and it is consistent with the themes of this Budget overall which are about investment and saving. 
I say to the House that were it not for the provisions of that confidence and supply agreement these changes would not have been delivered. I am also proud of the fact that we will now see from 1 April next year all donations to charitable organisations made by individuals and corporates being tax deductible. That arises out of the discussion document we issued in October last year again arising out of the confidence and supply agreement of the year before and it is a very positive step forward that the philanthropic charitable and voluntary sectors across New Zealand will welcome. It will be a spur to their further development and ongoing contribution to the work and the life of this country. Again that would not have happened were it not for that confidence and supply agreement. 
I am also proud of the fact—and this is particularly topical given the report yesterday from the Environmental Risk Management Authority—that we have in place a comprehensive review team chaired by the Hon Margaret Austin overseeing a review of pest management strategies when it comes to game animals such as deer chamois and thar that will also take into account yesterday’s report regarding the future use of 1080 poison. The recreational sector tell us that the establishment of that panel is one of the most significant things to happen to it in recent years and it provides a positive way forward towards striking that balance between the management of pests in New Zealand and the promotion of recreation. Again that is something that would not have happened but for the United Future confidence and supply agreement with this Government. 
I am proud of being able to contribute to those achievements that this Budget delivers. They are ones that in time will have a significant impact on the lives of all New Zealanders. The changes to the business tax regime from next year automatically will trigger consequential changes to personal tax arrangements. That will be the nature of the debate from this point on and I give notice that as a party we will continue to promote a low tax environment for New Zealand taxpayers. Next year probably around March or April we will have a discussion document coming out again as part of our agreement relating to income splitting for households and families looking at the whole area of household taxation arrangements. Again I think that will shape the tax debate for the future moving forward. 
Further work is being done in the charitable sector on some of the initiatives that the Budget contained particularly moves towards the establishment of payroll giving. We will be making further announcements about that later in the year again to boost the contribution to the voluntary sector in New Zealand the charitable sector in its work and to establish a culture of giving across this country to promote philanthropy and people’s involvement in it. 
As a smaller party in this House as one of the MMP parties United Future seeks to be a party of influence on the Government of the day. It is a role we have performed for both major parties over the last decade. I am particularly pleased that this year with the limited resources at our disposal we have been able to deliver such significant change. Indeed I say that if we took out many of the tax changes from this Budget aside perhaps from the KiwiSaver initiative there would not be a great deal left. I am very very satisfied and proud to have played a role in contributing to that and more important to see a situation where New Zealand will benefit from these changes where despite some of the ebbs and flows of political current they will be sustainable they will be beneficial to New Zealand households and families they will be positive for investment good for jobs and they will create a beneficial and positive future for this country. That is why I am voting for this Budget this afternoon.