Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I am asked about prospects for the mining industry with the minerals resource rent tax and I am addressing that. On prospects for the mining industry with the minerals resource rent tax, I was pointing out the contradiction that some days the opposition say it is too big and it will break the industry; on other days they say that it will not generate enough money. The fact that they make both of those criticisms tells you something: that they are just casting around for any reason to try and attack the minerals resource rent tax.

The reason for the minerals resource rent tax is that at this time of our nation's history, with a huge resources boom, with more than $500 billion of projects in the pipeline, it is the right time for there to be some sharing of the wealth with other Australians. We support that and we are determined that Australians see their fair share of the mining boom rather than have it channelled into the pockets of a few, which is the position of the opposition. On carbon pricing, which the shadow Treasurer raises as well, the shadow Treasurer well knows that with carbon pricing we will continue to see economic growth, we will continue to see growth in jobs and we will see our nation address carbon pollution at the lowest possible price.

I know that the shadow Treasurer has had difficulties with these issues in the past—that he has been reduced to tweeting out, begging people to tell him what he should think about important public policy concerns. Well, to the shadow Treasurer who has that inability to analyse public policy issues, let me be crystal clear with him. We are determined to see carbon pollution cut, we are determined to see our nation seize a clean energy future, we are determined to see a growing economy with more jobs, and we are determined to help households with tax cuts, family payment increases and pension increases as well. The shadow Treasurer is determined to mislead and be negative. (Time expired)

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