Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to the comments of Mr Brad Page, head of the Energy Supply Association, who said:

Any additional cost that is imposed on fuels, coal, and therefore the cost of electricity, will one way or another be passed through to consumers.

Why should Australian families already struggling to meet the increased cost of electricity prices be forced to pay more for electricity because of your great big new tax on mining?

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I always find it remarkable when the Leader of the National Party takes up the bat on deep questions of economic policy. The Leader of the National Party has not exhibited huge credentials in this department in the past, like the rest of the crack economic team which forms the frontbench of those opposite.

Point 1 about the RSPT is that it applies to commodities which are sold on international markets at world market prices. Point 2, if he actually spent some time examining the documents released by the Treasury in terms of the impact of this proposed tax on consumer prices, he would be enlightened further. Point 3, I find it remarkable again that the Leader of the National Party stands up here and speaks about taxes when his party is now committed to the Leader of the Opposition’s policy of introducing a great big new tax on all Australian big businesses, defining ‘big’ with a turnover of more than $5 million, in order to cross-subsidise his plan for a paid parental leave scheme. If you look at the flow-through impact of prices on bread, milk, and right across the food chain, you will see that that impact will flow through to the actual cost of living faced by working families right across Australia. That is why those opposite sitting behind the Leader of the Opposition are so deeply nervous about his great big tax proposal. I would suggest that the Leader of the National Party spends a little bit of time examining the economic documents released by the Treasury, understanding the impact of world prices, and the fact that these prices are set by world markets into which we sell our principal commodity groups.

In passing, I also note the fact, by the way, that it seems to be, as briefed out by Manager of Opposition Business, that now we have a system where the Leader of the Opposition only asks the first question, presumably, for reasons of not wishing to engage in a prolonged debate and discussion on economic policy—or on other matters perhaps. Let us just see how this goes today.

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Order! Has the Prime Minister concluded his answer?

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

Jim Turnour (Leichhardt, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Turnour interjecting

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

Order, the member for Leichhardt will get a go, but it will be to go somewhere else.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Pyne interjecting

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

Order! I will decide what ‘waits’ are up, and the member for Sturt’s wait will be up.