Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Families and Payments) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister's unfair budget already means a single income family with children will be around $6,000 worse off every year. As if that is not enough, the Prime Minister's changes to the GST will mean another hit of around $3,900 every year. Why is the Prime Minister so determined to hurt Australian families?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What changes are these?

Ms Macklin interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Jagajaga has asked a question and will desist.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think I know what the member who asked the question is referring to. I think she is referring to modelling done by the former government of a GST. The only government in recent times which has modelled an increase in the GST is the government of which the member for Jagajaga was a member.

Mr Shorten interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition will stop interjecting or will leave, one or the other.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I suggest that rather than shout across the chamber, the member for Jagajaga should do us all a favour and table the modelling that the former government did on a 12.5 per cent GST. I say to the member opposite, I say to the Leader of the Opposition: you asked me the question, table the modelling on which it was based.

Let me make it absolutely crystal clear no-one in this parliament at this time is proposing a change to the GST. What I am proposing is that we have a mature and rational debate about fixing our federation. That is what I am proposing. I am proposing that just for once everyone in this parliament put the long-term national interest ahead of the short-term politicking.

Ms Macklin interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Jagajaga is warned.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is what I am proposing. Members opposite should know that what is supported by this side of the chamber are lower, simpler, fairer taxes. As for the GST, there can and will be no change unless all the states want it because it is a tax that belongs to them—or at least that is what I thought until I discovered, watching the news last night, that members opposite, when they were in government, commissioned modelling on a rise in the GST to 12.5 per cent.

Opposition members interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There will be silence on my right.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Fair enough. Sometimes governments do commission modelling. You own the modelling; you gave it to the media last night. Do the right thing and give it to the parliament now.

Mr Pyne interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the House will desist.