Steven Ciobo (Moncrieff, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

We have another interjection from the shadow Treasurer. Let's talk about the schoolkids bonus. I notice that the shadow Treasurer made further comments in his contribution. Again, let me quote:

The minerals resource rent tax was never designed to pay for the schoolkids bonus. If you look at the announcements at the time, the minerals resource rent tax was never introduced to pay for the schoolkids bonus.

He is nodding in agreement. How fascinating. Perhaps the shadow Treasurer should have had a chat to the former finance minister, because Penny Wong made this comment on 891 ABC Adelaide, Drive with Michael Smith, on 6 June 2012. Let me read back to you, Shadow Treasurer, what your finance minister at the time said: 'I think it is about making sure we use the benefits of the boom wisely,' and 'I think the government's approach with the mining tax and making sure the benefits of that flow through to families, particularly low- and middle-income families through the schoolkids bonus—where people get assistance for kids' education costs—does that.' That is what the former finance minister said and—

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