Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

it often happens—or he is planning something very different to what he promises the Australian people. And this is a Treasurer who says Australia does not have a revenue problem. He says that while he is planning an increase in the GST to jack up revenue. The government says they want a debate. Well, let's have it; let's have a debate and we will have a tax plan for the Australian people to vote on, as you will. Let the Australian people decide. If you want a debate on tax, we cannot think of anything better. We cannot think of anything better than having a debate about tax, because it is a debate where you will have to show your values to the Australian people—your values and prejudices which will say: 'We want to increase tax on lower middle income earners. We want to make Australia's pensioners pay more. We want to see Australian veterans and carers pay more without compensation.' That is what your values tell us. You want a debate: bring it on.

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