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

My question is to the Treasurer. I refer the Treasurer to the comments of Ken Baxter, the former head of former Premier Bob Carr’s department in New South Wales, who said, ‘I do not think there is any doubt, if you read the government’s health document, that the GST would most likely have to increase, probably from 10 per cent to 12½ per cent.’ Can the Treasurer rule out an increase in any tax—yes or no?

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

I certainly rule out an increase in the GST and I also repeat the pledge that we have given, which is to keep tax as a percentage of GDP at the level that we inherited.