ACT provides effective opposition

Thursday 23rd Dec 1999
Richard Prebble
Media Release -- Other

The ACT Party has provided the effective opposition to the minority government, ACT Leader Richard Prebble said today.

"It was ACT that put in for a snap debate on West Coast logging. We understand no opposition party has ever previously managed to get an adjournment debate on Parliament's first day of business.

"ACT's led the debates in opposing the nationalisation of ACC, and the party hopping bill that still lets members party hop providing they don't actually write a letter of resignation to the Speaker. The ACT Party has also put in raft of amendments to the Tax Bill showing the Bill is badly drafted and will result in many anomalies.

"The Tax Bill, as ACT has pointed out, increases taxes for 7.5% of taxpayers, contrary to Labour's solemn pledge that only 5% would pay more income tax. This is not including other taxpayers who will be caught by the higher FBT.

"Labour is faced with the embarrassment of its own department advising that tax levels in New Zealand are already at an historic high and increased taxes will hit savings and productivity - a claim not denied by the Government.

"ACT also stood up for the rights of MPs and in the process, created a New Zealand record in having a Member expelled from the House in just 48 minutes.

"The new Government, by moving into urgency and declining to allow the address in reply debate to commence, has avoided Parliamentary scrutiny on its threats to break contracts with America over the F16s and with 30% of our schools with bulk funding. The Government would have been wiser to have its tax legislation to go to a select committee and not to take precipitous action without Parliamentary debate."

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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