Tony Smith (Casey, Liberal Party, Deputy Chairman , Coalition Policy Development Committee) Share this | Hansard source

Let me in the minute or so available prior to statements by members begin my remarks on this package of bills that has been put forward by the government. I support the speakers on our side—the shadow Treasurer, in particular—who spoke on behalf of the opposition when we last met in describing this package of bills as a bad package of bills that will create a black hole not just for the mining industry but for the budget as well.

The story of these mining tax bills sums up the failure of this government on so many levels: the failure of their competence, their failure on substance, their failure to act responsibly in so many ways. Of course, this saga, as you well know, Deputy Speaker—this long and winding road—began about 18 months ago when the Treasurer released, finally, the Henry review into taxation. He had sat on that review for more than six months and then, just a few days before the budget, he decided—

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