Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

We sought to introduce that in the legislation and, as those opposite at the last election also promised to do by setting that 32½ per cent rate in their forward estimates, but we then sought to compromise and worked to an arrangement that was reasonable and fair and we put forward 19. That was not accepted by the One Nation party and others, and we came to a reasonable position on 15 per cent, which is the seasonal-worker tax rate—at 15 per cent. That is what we have put forward. Now those opposite, first of all they wanted zero. Then, they wanted 10½. The member for Lilley set it at 32½ and now they have come up with a rate of 13. And I will tell you that one thing they did on none of this is that they did not support or put forward any way that these measures could be funded—they did not support the passenger movement charge increase and they spoke against the changes on superannuation when it came to backpackers. So what they were saying is that they wanted foreign workers to pay a lower rate of tax and they wanted to send the bill to Australian workers. That is what they wanted to do. They wanted a higher tax rate on small business, they wanted Australians to continue to pay higher rates of tax, but they wanted foreign workers to pay a lower rate of tax. The government has put a very sensible and reasoned proposition on the table. Those opposite, as a result of their failure to come and see what is a reasonable position, will ensure that the member for Lilley's 32½ per cent rate lives on and on and on.

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