Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Treasurer. I refer the Treasurer to the fact that he has confirmed that cabinet considered tax increases and income tax surcharges, yet the Treasurer says that it is all up to the Henry review. I refer to the fact that the Henry review is meant to be comprehensive, root and branch; yet it excludes the consideration of aspects of the GST and superannuation. Treasurer, if you are not sure who is setting government tax policy, how can the Australian people trust this government with tax?

Wayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is a bit rich coming from the previous government, which was the highest taxing government in Australia’s history. When they were in government, their record on taxation was the highest level of tax in our history. This government are serious, as I said before, about the Henry review. We are serious about a comprehensive look at the tax system, to make it simpler, to put more incentive in it and to make it more competitive. Nothing could be more important to this country’s future than tax arrangements, and nothing could be more important to future investment in this country than having an internationally competitive tax system. That is absolutely relevant to what we need to do to expand our capacity for the future. That is why it is so encouraging to see the Gorgon project go ahead. It is a massive investment for the country. But it is not one that those opposite can acknowledge. The fact is that the Liberal Party would rather see the country fail than see investments like Gorgon proceed.

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Earth to Wayne Swan: come back to the question, please. The question is on tax, not Gorgon.

Wayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The inability of those opposite to have a position on tax—except for the utterings of the shadow Treasurer at a conference a few months ago, or the proposals that were put forward by the current Leader of the Opposition four or five years ago—just shows what a divided, incapable, incompetent rabble they have become.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I would ask you to ask the Treasurer to table the Prime Minister’s handwritten note that he was just reading from, unless it is marked confidential.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Was the Treasurer reading from a document?

Wayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No.