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

and the biggest changes to superannuation that those opposite did not have the gall to bring into this chamber. They talk big in opposition, but when they were in government they did not go anywhere near it. This side of the House brought those reforms into this parliament, even against—and I am no less aware of it than anyone in this chamber—the opposition of some on our own side of politics. We had the courage to make those changes and we remain absolutely committed to ensuring that companies in this country can remain competitive.

I met with the new Treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, on the weekend and he made it very clear to me that their timetable to get the company tax rate down from over 30 per cent to 15 per cent is by the end of the year. Those opposite have a plan to strand Australian businesses in the international economy. They want to see investment go offshore—and the jobs, the wages and the living standards that goes with it. The only party in this chamber, apart from the Greens, that wants to see businesses pay more tax is that of those who sit opposite. They want to see small businesses pay more tax, they want to see medium-sized businesses pay more tax and they want to put a tax on jobs and a tax on incomes. Those opposite, the Labor Party, are addicted to higher taxes, and for one reason: they cannot control their spending. If they were prepared to come into this chamber and support the government when it came to making sure businesses were able to employ people in more situations by having a lower tax burden and if they would support us on the savings that were necessary, they would not be putting our AAA credit rating at risk, which they are.

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