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

The Leader of the National Party’s question went to Macarthur Coal, it went to comments by Mr De Lacy, it went to the whole question of the RSPT as proposed by the government and therefore the purposes to which the revenue obtained by the RSPT would be put. I would simply say to the Leader of the National Party: it is important to be consistent in public policy. You either stand for the proper funding of future infrastructure or you say one thing in Canberra, which is to oppose infrastructure investments of the type contained here at the St Helens primary school in his electorate, and then go back to the electorate and show up bright eyed and bushy tailed for the school opening. I think the Australian public would expect better of the Leader of the National Party on a policy approach to a resource rent tax based on profits rather than volume. I would draw his attention to one of his predecessors, the previous leader of the National Party, Tim Fischer. Can I suggest again that those opposite should actually engage in the policy of this debate, rather than engage in what they are now doing, which is yet another re-run of an ancient fear and scare campaign, which they are highly accomplished at.

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