6. Hon BILL ENGLISH (Deputy Leader—National) Link to this
to the Minister of Finance
Does he stand by his statement, in relation to the tax cuts he announced but then cancelled: “The difficulty we’ve had obviously with the 2005 announcement is that we didn’t legislate” and that “Other priorities took charge after that”?
Can the Minister therefore confirm that he is planning to legislate Budget tax cuts this year because the public do not trust him to keep any promise on tax cuts; and, worse than that, that it is clear from those comments that he does not trust himself to keep a promised tax cut, unless there is a law against his breaking that promise?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
One of the differences is that at least I can go 24 hours with the same promise, unlike the member’s leader, who gave three different promises within 24 hours on tax cuts.
Hon Paul SwainHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
Yes. We promised tax cuts for families worth some $500 million. These were delivered as promised, and opposed by National. We have also delivered tax cuts to business and tax cuts to savers. Every one of those tax cuts was opposed by National. I look forward to, on Thursday evening, the National Party opposing tax cuts again and again.
If the Minister believes that he can go 24 hours without changing his promise, will that period be long enough to have the legislation passed to make sure that he does not break it 36 hours later?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I would love to promise that we could pass the legislation in 24 hours. Of course, if for once National members actually vote for what they support—that is, tax cuts—the legislation could be passed within a matter of minutes.
Can the Minister confirm that he cancelled the tax cuts promised in the 2005 election campaign because he needed the money to pay for the expensive promises that had been made during that election campaign, and does that not mean that the public is right to believe that it is highly likely that he will do it again—make expensive promises during the campaign, and cancel tax cuts afterwards if he is re-elected?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I thank the member for his confidence that the current Government will be re-elected. I will refer that to my colleague Mr Goff.
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I do not think Mr Goff has ever changed my mind, but we tend to be of the same mind on most issues, so it is not a problem.