Parker was before Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee on Wednesday answering questions about his portfolio’s wins in Budget 2021. He found himself embroiled in a tug of war between Green and National members who variously wanted him to commit to or rule out using his new data to overhaul of the tax system.
Tax fairness Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick pushed on the other obvious point: what if Inland Revenue’s research discovers that the wealthiest aren’t paying their “fair share”? What would Parker do if he discovered the tax system wasn’t fair? “Perhaps nothing,” Parker said.