16 Dec 2008

Tax cuts no help to Maori, admits Sharples

9:52 pm on 16 December 2008

The Maori Party has admitted that it does not believe the tax cut legislation passed last week will help Maori, despite supporting the bill.

The party came under fire for supporting the bill, which Labour says will in fact disadvantage low-income workers.

During question time on Tuesday, Maori Affairs Minister and Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples was asked if he thought the tax cuts would help Maori to reach their potential.

Dr Sharples replied that the tax cuts would not help Maori at all, but that Maori would not be worse off under the new legislation.

He says the party supported the legislation as part of its confidence and supply agreement with National.

Urgency

Parliament has moved into urgency to pass legislation to scrap the biofuel obligation, and to repeal the commitment not to build new thermal power stations.

Three new separate bills will also be introduced, one which will enforce on-the-spot protection orders, but those bills are not expected to pass this week.

ACT and United Future supported the urgency motion, which passed 63 to 53, with the Maori Party abstaining.