“The Minister of Revenue must accept responsibility for his Department following another damning report from the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee,” said ACT Finance spokesman Rodney Hide today.

Last year the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee undertook an historic inquiry into the operation and culture of the IRD.

The Committee reported that the IRD suffered “a culture of punishment and fear” and “that there must be a cultural shift within the Department, and that shift must come from the top”.

“We now have a new government, a new Minister, and a new Acting Commissioner. But nothing appears to have changed.

The FEC’s report on Vote Revenue presented today has a simple one sentence conclusion:

“Despite a critical report last year by this Committee on the culture and operations of Inland Revenue this Department appears to have taken little cognisance of the report and continues to treat this committee contemptuously”.

“That is a damning report and must be urgently addressed by the Minister, Dr Michael Cullen. I believe the Minister is too busy with his other responsibilities to give the Inland Revenue the attention that it requires.

“The FEC’s report is a wake-up call for the government from all parties in Parliament. Their concern reflects the concern throughout New Zealand. It’s time this government listened – and did something about it,” concluded Rodney Hide.

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