Brown SimeonSIMEON BROWN (National—Pakuranga): Thank you very much Mr Chairman. I notice that the Labour Government has called it a Best Start" package and I think it's because they haven't had one themselves so they've had to come up with a name that helps. But I've got a few questions that I'm keen to ask today and it's to do with taxpayers because I'm standing here today on behalf of the taxpayers in my electorate who get nothing—nothing—from this package.I'd like to speak in favour of an amendment in the name of the Hon Steven Joyce who is proposing an amendment to the tax rates to increase the bottom threshold from $1 to $14000 for a 10.5 percent tax rate to $20000. Those who don't have children—those who are just earning income and don't have any responsibilities or any children—get nothing from this package. What I am arguing for today and asking the question is: when will inflation and tax creep be addressed by this Government—when? They have removed the tax cuts that National had put in place in this year's Budget which were to address the issue of bracket creep to ensure that people aren't having money taken off them because of inflation.This mini-Budget could be called "spray and walk away" because they're taking money off hard-working New Zealanders and just spraying it around the place—giving money here giving money there and then walking away. But people who have been paying taxes are getting nothing out of this.In 2010 people on the median wage paid $7325 in tax; they now pay $8020. Under National's changes that would drop to $7210. And I'm not talking about rich people here; I'm talking about people on the median wage of $50000—$50000. Now if you think those people are rich I think you need to have a bit of a reality—Mr Chairman I apologise. I shouldn't bring you into this debate and I do ask that you accept my apology. Please forgive me as a new member. Members opposite if they think that $50000 is a large wage then I think they need a bit of a reality check and to maybe spend more time talking with some of their constituents. In 2010 people on the average wage were paying $9137 in tax; now they pay $10972. With National's changes that would drop to $9912. When is this issue of bracket creep going to be addressed?The other issue is: why not give a tax cut rather than having a complicated independent tax credit? Why not give a tax cut so that people don't have to go through a complicated process where they have to apply to get this? We know the statistics: 60 percent of people in total were actually making this application. So what you're seeing here—Hon Member: Wrong—80 percent.SIMEON BROWN: Oh is it less is it? [Interruption] Sixty percent.What we know is that a large proportion of people who were entitled to this tax credit were not applying for it. So why not give these people a tax cut by increasing the bottom rate the bottom threshold and ensuring that they can get that automatically that it's a fair simple system where they just simply don't have that money taken off them in the first place rather than have to file a return and go through some complicated bureaucracy to then go through this.But that's what the other side like. They like complication. They like inflation. They like bureaucracy. All it does is it means the Government holds the money back rather than giving the money to people who earn it who work hard and who have worked hard and continue to do so so that they can support their families. They can then make the choices as to how they want to spend their own money.On this side of the Chamber we believe that those who work hard those who are seeking to get ahead they deserve to have a tax cut. They deserve to not have inflation constantly eating away into their pay packet. They can then make the choices as to how they wish to spend that money in their own lives. Thank you."