David Bradbury (Lindsay, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Treasurer ) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Fremantle for her question. Of course, strong economic management is important, and our economy is one of the strongest in the developed world, with low unemployment, contained inflation and low net debt. With a record pipeline of investment and half a trillion dollars worth of investment coming into the resources sector, our economy is one of the strongest in the developed world. And we are returning the budget to surplus in 2012-13 and we will be doing that in a way that spreads the benefits of the mining boom.

I am pleased to say that, far from the commentary that we hear from those opposite, this House has already passed a number of significant budget bills. These bills will ensure that we spread the benefits of the boom to hardworking Australians. We have already passed the appropriations bills and we have passed the schoolkids bonus but, of course—no thanks to those opposite—we have always passed a number of important and sensible savings measures. But, of course, those opposite have no interest in supporting families and they have no interest in supporting responsible economic management and returning the budget to surplus.

This week we have seen those opposite come into this place and oppose a number of key corporate tax revenue measures. These are important measures that are about protecting the tax base, and they have opposed them. They are measures like the cross-border transfer pricing rules. These are important rules that will ensure that, where corporations seek to shift their profits offshore to avoid paying tax in Australia, we will have rules in place to ensure that they pay their fair share.

Those opposite came into this place and opposed these reforms.

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