Source: New Zealand Parliament – Hansard
Question No. 3—Prime Minister
3. CHRISTOPHER LUXON (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all of his Government’s statements and actions?
Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Prime Minister): Yes, in particular my decision to lead a trade mission to China in June this year, which helped to deliver on a number of priorities that will grow our exports, create jobs, and increase incomes. The economic relationship between New Zealand and China is worth around $40 billion annually to New Zealanders. Among the agreements that we were able to renew included agreements in tourism cooperation, forestry cooperation, and agricultural cooperation. We saw the launch of new direct airline routes to New Zealand, adding thousands more seats every month. We were able to take the opportunity to promote New Zealand as a travel destination to a very significant Chinese consumer base. And, of course, I was able to welcome international students from China back to New Zealand, who make up 35 percent of all international students who come to New Zealand. This Government’s record on trade speaks for itself. As a result of our commitment to trade, the share of our exports covered by trade agreements will increase by nearly 50 percent—another example of how this Government is backing our Kiwi exporters.
Christopher Luxon: Why did his finance Minister say that a wealth tax is “something I would have liked to happen” on the same day that the Prime Minister tried to rule it out from overseas?
Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Well, I didn’t try; I did.
Christopher Luxon: We don’t know about that yet. Is it normal for the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Revenue to publicly back major tax changes that the Prime Minister has tried to rule out; or is that just how things work in his Cabinet today?
Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I did rule it out and I would note that a number of Ministers put up bids during the Budget process which they support, which ultimately don’t proceed through the Budget process. That’s not unique to this Government; that happens in every Government.
Christopher Luxon: Can he confirm that all work on new taxes at Treasury and IRD has now stopped?
Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: No further work will be done on those things ahead of the election, clearly.
Christopher Luxon: Which tax policy does his Minister of Finance and his Minister of Revenue support: the one he’s trying to run on or the one that the Greens are?
Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The one Cabinet agree.
Christopher Luxon: Why is it that if you ask three Labour Ministers on what the tax policy is, you get three different answers?
Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I reject that.
Christopher Luxon: Why did he tell New Zealanders he wouldn’t introduce any new taxes and then have public officials spend nine months working on them?
Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: As I’ve indicated before, my decision to rule those out happened before the Budget and I stand by that decision.
Christopher Luxon: How can New Zealand—[Interruption] sorry?
Hon Grant Robertson: No, no. Carry on.
Christopher Luxon: No, I will. I will. Don’t worry, we’ve got years of this—[Interruption] How can New Zealanders take his new commitments on tax seriously when he didn’t—
SPEAKER: Order! Order! Can we hear that question, please?
Christopher Luxon: Yes. Thank you, Mr Speaker. This is a very good question. How can New Zealanders take his new commitments on tax seriously when he didn’t uphold his old ones?
Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I utterly reject that.
