Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. NATSEM modelling shows that an increase in the GST even when paired with a five per cent reduction in income tax still leaves almost two-thirds of Australian households worse off. How fair is it to make two-thirds of Australian households worse off?

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for his question but I have asked precisely this question from his deputy just a moment ago.

Ms Macklin interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I remind the member for Jagajaga that she is warned.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The reality is that you can create any scenario you like with modelling and come up with something which is unfair or fair. The fact is that the outcome that is presupposed in the NATSEM modelling would of course not be fair. That is pretty obvious but it is not the government's policy. It is the Leader of the Opposition's fantasy about what the government's policy might be. I know the honourable member would love us to rush to judgement.

Mr Thistlethwaite interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Kingsford Smith has been warned.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He does not want us to spend time talking to ACOSS or talking to the ACTU or talking to the national reform summit. He does not want us to consult to all Australians.

Mr Thistlethwaite interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Kingsford Smith will leave under 94(a).

The member for Kingsford Smith then left the chamber.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He wants us to do what his party did in government and shut down debate by ruling things out. This is a government that is committed to an open debate about these important matters which will inform us. It will inform the people and, when we come to our conclusions, they will know and we will know that we have reached the best informed conclusions we can. The honourable member should not be afraid of open discussion. He should get out from under the doona. He should engage in the open discussion. He should come out and recognise that in Australia we are entitled to have an open debate about taxation reform, an open debate about the economy. And the Labor Party is not in it. They do not want to be in it. They do not want to have that open discussion.

Let me say it again for the last time in this question time at least: there will be no changes made under our government which will be unfair to people on lower incomes. We are committed to ensuring that there is equity across the system. We will ensure that any changes that we make are ones which will promote growth, promote jobs, promote innovation, ensure that our children and our grandchildren have the chance of better jobs in the future than we have had, ensure that we are able to seize the unprecedented opportunities Australians now face and ensure that the government is backing Australians as they work, save and invest, not holding them back. That is our commitment. If the honourable member believes he has some good ideas as to how we can do that, let's see them. Forget the scare campaign; it is time to campaign on facts and good ideas.