11. RODNEY HIDE (Leader—ACT) Link to this
to the Minister of Finance
Does he stand by his statement that Mr David Henderson, or “Hendo” is “one of the biggest and nastiest tax evaders in this country … who ran the sex industry in Christchurch and avoided tax thereon” and has he any evidence to support his claims?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Minister of Finance) Link to this
Mr Henderson has exercised his right to make a formal response to this House and I have no further comment to make on the matter.
How then can Dave Henderson ever get fair treatment from the Inland Revenue Department when the Deputy Prime Minister has already declared him guilty of criminal tax evasion and he has never even been charged or had any evidence produced against him, and why is the Deputy Prime Minister not big enough to apologise and say that he got it wrong?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
Under the Tax Administration Act, of course, the Inland Revenue Department must not take any instructions from Ministers on such matters, at all.
Does the Minister not find it richly ironic that the taxpayer, through the Film Commission, has put $1.9 million into a movie, We’re Here to Help, showing that the Inland Revenue Department unfairly victimised Mr Dave Henderson—a victimisation that continues to this day because of the wild allegations that were made by the Deputy Prime Minister under privilege and that to this day have not been retracted?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I repeat that under the Tax Administration Act, the Inland Revenue Department must act independently and cannot be directed. The fact that the Film Commission has helped fund a film shows what a democracy this is. But I would like to quote to the member from the blurb for the film: “This film does not purport to be an accurate account of the events involving Mr Henderson and the IRD.”