Scott Buchholz (Wright, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I take those interjections, because the taxes that you guys have put on our mums and dads, our businesses, our people —

Government members interjecting—

Let me just run through them: the tax increase on company cars, which is set to raise $970 million over the forward estimates; the abolishment of the entrepreneurs tax offset, announced on 10 May, which is expected to raise $365 million over the forward estimates; the phasing out of the dependent spouse tax offset, which is expected to raise $755 million over the forward estimates; the disallowing of deductions against government assistance payments, removing minors' eligibility for the low-income tax offset on unearned income; the deferral of tax breaks for green buildings, which will raise $295 million. It is 19 new taxes since you guys came to office. You have put your hands into the pockets or opened the purse strings of the mums and dads and the businesses of this nation—

Government members interjecting—

Yell all you want from the other side of the House, but you will not drown out the voice of the Australian people! You are a joke when it comes to this. We have had a wave of taxes from this government. The death of fiscal responsibility is at your hands. For the first time in nine years, the people of Australia have not been given any type of tax relief or tax cuts. There is no relief. You guys make the point that you are a low-taxing government, but go through and calculate how much you guys are taxing. If you had put the carbon tax into your forward estimates or in your budget, you would have been the greatest-taxing government in the history of Australia. That would have superseded anything that we ever did.

Earlier this week, I sent out a note to the media saying that, as a nation, we were mourning because we have been dying economically since the Prime Minister knifed the member for Griffith and took over the purse strings of this nation. Not only are you guys struggling with reference to taxation; you are struggling with who is going to be your next leader. In the absence of a standout candidate—I hear it in the corridors: 'Is it going to be Simon Crean?'—

Opposition members interjecting—

Sorry, I can't hear you. Member for where? Anyway, I can't use their names. In the absence of strong leadership, you guys are actually stuck with the person you have got.

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