Michael Sukkar (Deakin, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister to the Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

envious approach to politics? I don't think Australians are bitter and jealous and envious. I actually don't think that's in their nature. I think Australians are very confident about their future. I think they're very aspirational. In the end, they want to work hard to provide for themselves and their families. Above all, I think they know, instinctively, that each dollar that they can keep in their own pockets will be far better spent by them than by government. The litany of higher taxes that the Labor Party has quite shamelessly and unashamedly committed to—$220 billion of higher taxes—is really a message that says to Australians, 'We want more of your hard-earned money because we can spend it better than you.' Instinctively, I don't think Australians believe that. I don't think the history of the 'glory years' of the Wayne Swan treasurership has proven that the Labor Party can spend taxpayers' money better than taxpayers can spend their own money. I certainly don't think that's the evidence of those 'glory years', as they're described.

Our view is that Australians are encouraging us, as a parliament, to lock in these seven years of tax cuts so they can have relief. They know that they will get additional and increasing tax relief over the next seven years, because this is going to be so important as a cornerstone of our strengthening and growing economy, our ambitions and—something we can be very proud of—a $2 trillion economy.

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