Tony Smith (Casey, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the minister for his correction. It leaves open the possibility, of course, that the 10th anniversary of ‘Fundamental Injustice Day’ occurring on a community cabinet day might well mean that the Prime Minister again will again address his views on the goods and services tax, for which he is now ultimately responsible. It might well be that the Prime Minister will explain how he has changed his view, but it is likely, of course, that the Prime Minister will say nothing at all.

I would just ask the minister, finally, whether he personally believes the goods and services tax is a good tax for Australia. He has admitted in his second answer, after a long survey of his economic views in the previous answer—he has been as concise in his second answer as he was longwinded in his first answer—that the government has no plans to change the goods and services tax. That is, as he said, not a revelation; I put it to him in the question. What I am asking is whether he thinks it was a good reform and is a good tax for Australia.

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