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

We believe that the Olympic Dam project is a very important project for the future of South Australia, which is why every step of the way we have worked strongly with BHP, the proponents of Olympic Dam, in order to see this project realised for South Australia. Of course, BHP has to go through all of its internal processes and decision making, as is proper, but the government has worked consistently with BHP and will continue to do so.

The Leader of the Opposition refers to a statement from Mr Jac Nasser about uncertainty in tax policy. The source of that uncertainty is the Leader of the Opposition. The tax policies and plans of this government are clear and are there for all to see. We have legislated the minerals resource rent tax. There is no uncertainty: every mining company in Australia is well aware of the rules. We have legislated carbon pricing. There is no uncertainty: every mining company, indeed every business that has to pay a carbon price—a very limited number of them, well under 1,000—is well aware of the rules. We have set up a business tax working group. You could not take a more consultative approach to the future of business taxation.

We on this side of the House wanted to deliver a 1 per cent reduction in the company tax but ran into the destructive negativity of the Leader of the Opposition, who has prevented businesses around Australia, whether BHP or any other, from realising that 1 per cent tax cut. The Leader of the Opposition actually plans a company tax increase for businesses like BHP. So, on this side of the parliament there is responsible economic policy, a budget coming to surplus, certainty for the business community and a consultative approach about the future; on that side of the parliament, yes, there is risk—you betcha!

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