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

I thank the member for McPherson for her question. It goes to the mining industry and it goes to the implications of the proposed introduction of the government’s RSBT. I would say to the member for McPherson to look carefully at the projections by Treasury of the impact of the government’s overall tax reform on employment for the economy and for the mining industry as well. In fact, when it comes to employment for the mining industry, from recollection, the Treasury analysis says that you would look at about a 4.5 per cent increase in activity, I think a 5.5 per cent increase in investment and over time a seven-point increase in employment. I would suggest that the honourable member for McPherson reflect on those figures contained within the Treasury’s projections.

I would also remind the member for McPherson, given the nature of the seat she represents, of the large number of small businesses within her electorate that would be directly benefited by the tax reforms the government foreshadows. I think the Minister for Small Business, Independent Contractors and the Service Economy just recently—and eloquently, if I might say—ran through the implications for small businesses individually in electorates right across the country. On the Gold Coast there are a great stack of small businesses, which frankly would benefit from being able to—

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