Copeland Gordon: Taxation (Annual Rates Maori Organisations Taxpayer Compliance and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill — In Committee 
Copeland Gordon: Taxation (Annual Rates Maori Organisations Taxpayer Compliance and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:607;Page:4241] 
GORDON COPELAND (United Future) 
: 
 I will speak on clause 103. If members look at the clause they will see that it has the word “New” written there then in brackets the word “unanimous”. For the benefit of those listening I point out that that simply means the clause was unanimously approved by the Finance and Expenditure Committee. The names of the members of the Finance and Expenditure Committee are also set out in the bill and they include the honourable member Rodney Hide. At the select committee Rodney Hide agreed with everyone else that clause 103 was a good clause to include in this bill. He heard the explanation as we did from the officials. They said that this clause is intended to address situations where people blatantly set out on a course of tax evasion then when the Inland Revenue Department catches up with them decide to transfer their assets off shore liquidate their New Zealand position and dodge the tax. This clause is aimed at addressing those specific situations where there is significant risk—and that is what the wording is; “a significant risk”—to the revenue. People will have to front up with that tax and pay it into an escrow kind of account whilst the matter is determined in the courts. 
However I go back to my comments about the member Rodney Hide. Having agreed to the clause in the select committee he now comes along to the Committee of the whole House tonight and proposes his amendment. I have not actually seen the amendment. He has not bothered to show me a copy; nor has he bothered to read it to the Committee. We have no idea what is in it. But I ask myself why he has done that. Is it because the member does not know his own mind or could it possibly have something to do with the fact that what happens in the select committee with the officials is kind of a private matter whereas what is happening here in the Chamber tonight is broadcast on the radio? 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: I am sorry to interrupt the honourable member but I am having trouble hearing him because of the noise that is taking place to my right. I remind honourable members that if they want to have long conversations they can do so in the lobbies. 
GORDON COPELAND 
: Concerning the situation about the so-called race-based rate for Maori authorities I would like to make a couple of points. First once again if we look through the list of members on the Finance and Expenditure Committee we will see that it includes Rodney Hide from the ACT party. He did not lodge any kind of minority report about his disagreement with that particular clause at the select committee yet he comes to the Chamber tonight and brings out the race card. By contrast Craig McNair and Lockwood Smith from the other two Opposition parties at least had consistency in their position—a position by the way that I completely and utterly disagree with. But at least they were consistent in saying at the select committee and here in the Chamber that they oppose those particular provisions in Part 3. 
I was delighted to hear Brian Connell admit that the present tax rules that apply to Maori authorities here and now tonight are totally unjust. They amount to a double taxation on those authorities and I am glad that he picked up on that and was prepared to admit it. Tonight we are removing a complete injustice a double taxation which applies only to Maori authorities. That is the point—it applies only to Maori authorities. It does not apply to companies. It does not apply to other organisations. Tonight we are putting right a fundamental injustice towards Maori organisations. That in my opinion is something that this Chamber ought to freely acknowledge. As I said before I totally and utterly disagree with the position taken by New Zealand First and National. On the one hand Brian Connell has started to admit that this is a serious injustice and on the other hand he argued that this injustice should continue. I believe that that is a totally unacceptable situation. 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Would members please resume their seats. I am sorry to interrupt the honourable member but there is too much noise. One or two yellow cards will be going out. Will the member please continue his speech. 
GORDON COPELAND 
: I do not think there is really much more one need add. This is a clear case of Parliament being asked to rectify an existing serious injustice against Maori organisations. I think that that is the reality and I totally disagree with all the concerns being expressed that somehow this is racially based. If it is racially based it is removing an injustice that applies only to those people who are predominantly Maori.