National focuses on taxes as parliament returns ahead of election
The government repeatedly emphasised taxes during parliamentary sessions this week, with the opposition warning of potential levies if Labour returns to power.
During question time sessions this week, the government mentioned taxes more than 40 times, with Finance Minister Simeon Brown and other National MPs making tax concerns a central theme. Labour Leader Chris Hipkins sought to shift focus to other issues, including the removal of cabinet minister Chris Penk, but National consistently steered discussion back to potential taxes under a Labour-led government. Two major bills also passed their third readings: one returning land and compensation to Māori in Nelson, and another preventing climate-related lawsuits against companies.
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