Peter Slipper (Fisher, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I do accept your ruling, Mr Deputy Speaker, as you would expect me to. This bill, however, would be greatly improved were the amendment moved by the honourable member for Warringah to be accepted by the government. I ask the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services at the table to consider the arguments put forward by the member for Warringah because we as a parliament do have a responsibility to get legislation right. The legislation is not right and it would be greatly improved were the amendment moved by the honourable member for Warringah accepted by the government.

I also support the second part of the amendment moved by the honourable member for Warringah—that is, that we as a parliament should express our concern at the decision of the government to impose a means test on the family tax benefit. I think it is about time that the government got off the backs of those people who are prepared to work hard to produce an income, because if it were not for the fact that people work hard and produce income then the government would not be receiving the taxation revenue it needs to provide the services required by the Australian community. So the government ought to be a government for all Australians. The government ought not to victimise those people who work hard, because if we did not have people working hard and earning those sorts of incomes then the government simply would not be able to provide the social services needed by the community at large. I do support the position taken by the member for Warringah and I commend the amendment to the chamber.

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