Steven Ciobo (Moncrieff, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for his question. The coalition's budget plan for immediate and sustained tax relief is consistent with the global push for lower, flatter taxes for individuals and pro-investment tax policies for business. The simple fact is that you cannot hit the Australian economy with a $200 billion tax slug, as Labor wants to do, and expect businesses and households to remain indifferent to that extra tax slug.

In fact, to encourage and reward hardworking Australians, we're making income tax lower, fairer and simpler. To encourage and reward business investment, we want to make sure that we make our tax system internationally competitive. Under our plan, Australians who aspire to work hard, take extra shifts or earn pay rises or promotions will be encouraged and rewarded. As investment minister, I welcome lower company tax and lower, flatter personal taxes for our most productive and talented workers and entrepreneurs. We'll let them keep more of the money they make, because on this side of the House we absolutely respect and reward those who want to do their best and have aspiration.

The member asked if I was mystified by alternative approaches. Absolutely, I am mystified, because we continue to see the Australian Labor Party attack the aspiration of people. The question is: why is it that Labor is so mystified by aspiration? Why is it that Labor has a war on ambition? I think it comes down to the Leader of the Opposition, because he doesn't embody aspiration and he doesn't embody ambition. In fact, the vast bulk of them don't embody those traits. But there is one among them who does embody aspiration. There is one among them who does embody a bit of ambition.

A government member: Who is it?

The question is: who could it be? Who has those traits? Who has that ambition? Who has aspiration? That's the question. Who could it be?

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