Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I am unaware of any such request, but I notice that the Leader of the Opposition seems to have had, historically, very close connections with the Treasury—at least parts of it. I say to the honourable gentleman that the reason that the government has embarked upon the Henry review of taxation is so we can have a comprehensive set of options for long-term taxation reform.

When the business community gathered in this building at the 2020 Summit last year in March, one of their first requirements of the newly elected government was that it was high time we had a comprehensive review of the future of the taxation system. That was their first ask. One hundred people from the business community from all sides of politics assembled in the Great Hall said, ‘What we need is a root and branch review of the system.’ That is what is underway. It is the right course of action, and we await the outcome of that report from the Secretary to the Treasury, Mr Henry.

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