Madam Speaker, the member was talking about his birthplace of New Zealand and all the wonderful things that have been done there.
My recollection of the New Zealand situation after it virtually went bankrupt was that it brought in a harmonized consumption tax. I believe it was 12 per cent and was applied to all goods and services, including food and prescription drugs, absolutely everything. I am also aware that some changes were made to the income tax structure as well which amounted to massive tax reductions to high income earners in New Zealand and shifted the burden of tax down to the low and middle income earners.
I have read analyses of the impact in New Zealand. That scorch and burn approach used in New Zealand seems to be the kind of approach the Reform Party has been proposing in its budgets and in its false start program. It is the same kind of thing where the road kill of its citizens is increased poverty, poorer health care or quality of health care, poorer social services, higher suicide rates and higher family breakdown, all as a result of what the member describes as progressive government. Would the member like to reassess his position on the wonderful actions in New Zealand and maybe recant here and now?