Capital Gains Tax: Current IRD Implementation Work
Matthew Hooton made this Official Information request to Grant Robertson
The request was partially successful.
From: Matthew Hooton
Dear Grant Robertson,
My OIA request is prompted by this report on NewstalkZB: https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike...
It reports you as saying, in the context of whether or not there is time for policy work to be completed and legislation drafted for a Capital Gains Tax (CGT) to be legislated for before the next election, that "We have been talking with the IRD officials and we believe the time is there."
It may surprise the public that the Government has been talking with IRD officials on this topic since the Tax Working Group (TWG) has only just completed its work, its report has not been released publicly and the Government says it has not made even a high-level, in-principle decision on implementing a CGT.
Therefore, under the OIA, I request all official information on the talks you refer to. This includes, but is not limited to, information on the timelines for developing operational procedures for a CGT, finalising policy, drafting legislation and parliamentary processes associated with a CGT. It also includes, but is not limited to, emails, briefing notes etc between you and/or your office and the IRD on such matters, and written notes of verbal conversations involving you, your staff or officials.
I also request any advice you have received from the Cabinet Office, SSC or other relevant authority on whether or not is it appropriate for officials to be doing policy-implementation work of this kind ahead of the Government making a decision-in-principle to proceed with a CGT.
Given the very high public interest in this matter, I would appreciate you providing the information as soon as reasonable practicable, as required by law, rather than waiting for 20 working days before releasing it.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
Matthew Hooton
From: Hon Grant Robertson
Dear Matthew Hooton
On behalf of the Hon Grant Robertson, Minister of Finance, I acknowledge receipt of your letter of 9 February 2019.
Your request was received in this office on 11 February 2019 and will be responded to under the provisions of the Official Information Act.
Yours sincerely
Katy Greco-Ainslie
Private Secretary
Katy Greco-Ainslie
Private Secretary to Hon Grant Robertson
Minister of Finance
Minister for Sport and Recreation
Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage
MP for Wellington Central
The information contained in this email is privileged and confidential and intended for the addressee only. If you are not the intended recipient, you are asked to respect that confidentiality and not disclose, copy or make use of its contents. If received in error you are asked to destroy this email and contact the sender immediately. Your assistance is appreciated.
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From: Matthew Hooton
Dear Katy
By my calculations and that of FYI.org.nz, this request is now overdue. Please supply me with the information I sought on Monday morning. Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Matthew Hooton
From: Hon Grant Robertson
Kia Ora,
Thank you for contacting Hon Grant Robertson, the Minister of Finance,
Minister for Sport and Recreation, Associate Minister for Arts, Culture
and Heritage and MP for Wellington Central. The Minister considers all
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[1]http://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Release...
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1. http://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Release...
From: Hon Grant Robertson
Letter from Hon Grant Robertson, Minister of Finance, attached.
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From: Hon Grant Robertson
Letter from Hon Grant Robertson, Minister of Finance, attached.
Kind regards
- Katy
Katy Greco-Ainslie
Private Secretary to Hon Grant Robertson
Minister of Finance
Minister for Sport and Recreation
Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage
MP for Wellington Central
The information contained in this email is privileged and confidential and intended for the addressee only. If you are not the intended recipient, you are asked to respect that confidentiality and not disclose, copy or make use of its contents. If received in error you are asked to destroy this email and contact the sender immediately. Your assistance is appreciated.
Email disclaimer:
Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers’ portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list: date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy at https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...
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From: Hon Grant Robertson
Hi Matthew
Please find attached a letter from the Minister of Finance.
My regards to all the Hooton/Wood families – hope all is well.
- Katy
Katy Greco-Ainslie
Private Secretary to Hon Grant Robertson
Minister of Finance
Minister for Sport and Recreation
Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage
MP for Wellington Central
The information contained in this email is privileged and confidential and
intended for the addressee only. If you are not the intended recipient,
you are asked to respect that confidentiality and not disclose, copy or
make use of its contents. If received in error you are asked to destroy
this email and contact the sender immediately. Your assistance is
appreciated.
Email disclaimer:
Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers’
portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or
constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list:
date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the
meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the
Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will
be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet
with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be
released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a
private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the
provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy
considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a
copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to
be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of
your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the
release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the
sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy at
[1]https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...
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References
Visible links
1. https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...
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