Stephen Jones (Whitlam, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

The government won't be supporting the amendments that have just been moved by the member for Barker. I was waiting in anticipation for the member for Barker to produce the documents that they have prepared themselves for the costings in relation to this measure or to refer to the costings that they have produced in relation to this measure. In both cases, there was deafening silence. This is relevant because, in about an hour's time, I am anticipating that the member for Hume will be puffing himself up in this place and talking about how the government is spending too much. At the same time, he's moving bills into this House which would require us to spend even more. We won't be doing that. We have carefully calibrated these measures.

I will say, in relation to the measures that have previously been considered and moved by the member for Warringah, we thank the member for Warringah for the engagement that we've had in relation to these bills. We've had good-faith engagement with her and other members of the crossbench in relation to those measures. But we think, in combination, the two measures, the small-business energy incentive and the incident tax write-off measures, make up a $600 million package of relief and, together with the other measures that have been put in place by the government, they provide a good package of relief with the right incentives for small businesses.

I will say, however, that the points made by the member for Warringah in relation to the amendments she moved make a powerful case for the swift consideration and movement of these bills through both the House of Representatives and the other place. I commend all members of this place and the other place to do exactly that.

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