Stewart McArthur (Corangamite, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I am pleased to participate in this debate on the Customs Tariff Amendment (2007 Harmonized System Changes) Bill 2006, which is a technical bill. The general philosophical debate on tariffs, as you may recall, Mr Deputy Speaker Jenkins, was very strong in Geelong, in the electorate of Corangamite, regarding motor cars and TCF. I was a proponent, as most people in this chamber know, for lower tariffs—sometimes much to my own detriment.

I notice my good friend the shadow minister at the table. We had some interesting debates on these matters. To be fair to the opposition, they were in favour of lowering tariffs from time to time, when it suited them politically. I recall Prime Minister Keating supporting lowering tariffs until he came to a certain election and wanted to put them up a bit. It has been an interesting debate.

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