Sharon Bird (Cunningham, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Vocational Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Vocational Education. Will the minister rule out increasing TAFE fees with the GST?

Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the good member for her question. I must say that I am feeling the love. I spent two years in the employment portfolio and I had one question. I have already got my first question just within a couple of months so I am indeed feeling the love from the members opposite.

What I can say is that we are committed to a tax system that is going to take this country forward. We are committed to a tax system that is going to provide a growing economy and it is a growing economy that is going to provide opportunities for Australians to get into work. You can see the fruits of the government's efforts with the fall in the unemployment rate. I do not hear those opposite asking about what the good news is about the fall in the unemployment rate. We only hear them trying to mount a scare campaign on taxes.

We are about a tax system that is going to meet the needs of Australia in the 21st century. They are about looking through the rear-view mirror—

Mr Thistlethwaite interjecting—

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

The member for Kingsford Smith will cease interjecting.

Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

trying to mount a—not so scary—scare campaign. We want an education system that is going to meet our needs into the 21st century.

Sharon Bird (Cunningham, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Vocational Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order: relevance. If the minister could go to the education matters—

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

The member will resume her seat. The minister has the call and is in order.

Ms O'Neil interjecting—

The member for Hotham will cease interjecting.

Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We on this side of the House understand the importance of education. We have policies on education that will drive this country forward. We have policies in relation to taxation that will take this country forward. We are having a discussion with the Australian people and we are aiming to come up with a tax system that will be of benefit of all Australians. For those Australians on lower incomes, it will be a tax system that will support those Australians to provide them with the services they need going forward. And for those who are in business and for those who are striving to better themselves, it will be a tax system which will give them the incentive to increase their incomes and assist in the growth of the Australian economy. We on this side of the House are about driving Australia forward; those on the other side of the House are about holding this economy back.