I laid a successful amendment to the personal tax and benefits review to ensure that, before changes were made during the transitional period, that the ability to pay is considered. My short speech is below.
Sir, I do not propose to say a lot now as I understand that this amendment will be supported by both the T&R and SSD boards, and given the number of amendments and the simplicity and straightforwardness of this one. I am proposing that when T&R and Social Security Department make recommendations for
changes during the transitional period, aside from other considerations they consider people’s ability to pay. As I said earlier in the debate on GST, I have a major issue with this report not considering people’s ability to pay, either in the transition period or the long term, and this amendment merely is a natural follow-on to that amendment.