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

My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, what is the government's tax policy?

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

The Leader of the Opposition knows full well that any changes to tax in any government's life are announced—not universally, but almost invariably—in the budget. The Leader of the Opposition is—

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

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order going to direct relevance. I did not ask what the Prime Minister's future tax policy is; I just want to find out what the government's current tax policy is.

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

The Prime Minister has the call.

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

At a high, philosophical level, our commitment is to taxes that are lower, fairer and simpler. We want to ensure that the tax system works as effectively as possible and applies the least handbrake or deadweight loss to the economy. That is why we have reviewed the tax system very carefully. The conclusions of that review or any changes arising therefrom will be set out in the budget in the normal way.

There are some changes that have been proposed since I have been Prime Minister, and obviously the one we mentioned earlier today in question time, creating tax incentives for investment in start-up companies, is one, and that is a good example of us endeavouring to use changes to the tax system to promote investment. But what the honourable member is asking is this. He wants to know the contents of the budget on 16 March. Yes, they want us to present the budget in March! Well, the contents of the budget and tax changes contained therein will be delivered on budget night in the normal way.

The honourable members opposite were reckless and unwise enough to publish their own tax plans.

Opposition members interjecting—

Oh yes. This is their special formula: to undermine housing prices, to put up—

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

The Prime Minister will resume his seat.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on a point of order—

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

The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. The level of interjections is far too high. I am going to hear from the Manager of Opposition Business. I am not going to keep warning over and over again. The member for Griffith will leave under 94(a). I was waiting until the end of the answer so as not to interrupt question time, but the Manager of Opposition Business has given me an interlude.

The member for Griffith then left the chamber.

There has already been a point of order taken on relevance. I refer the Manager of Opposition Business to my earlier rulings about answers being on the policy topic. I cannot possibly see how there is another point of order, but, out of deference to the Manager of Opposition Business, I will hear him.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister is defying your earlier rulings.

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

I disagree with the Manager of Opposition Business.

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

I thank the honourable member for the interruption because it gave me the opportunity to recall another great moment in Labor Party tax policy, when they actually voted against our multinational anti-tax-avoidance laws, so there you have got the Labor Party.

Honourable members interjecting—

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

The Prime Minister will resume his seat.

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

Mr Speaker—

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

The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. The level of interjections continues to be too high. I say to all members that if they examine my earliest rulings on this topic from my first two weeks in the chair, they will see that I have asked that, with direct relevance, although it is a difficult issue for the chair, provided the answers are on the policy topic and the question was about tax; it was a short question—

Honourable members interjecting—

No, I am sorry; I am not going to have members interject when I am addressing the House. If they do not want me to address the matter, we will simply move on. I am really not going to. I know passions run high, but I have made my position clear on this on numbers of occasions. The question was about tax policy, and I have made clear that, provided the answer is on that topic—and I have also made clear that those answering questions are able to compare and contrast within their answer. The Prime Minister has the call.

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

The honourable member has asked about what our tax policy is. I have reminded him that substantial tax changes will be, obviously, in the normal course of events, announced in the budget, but I do draw his attention to the incentives we are providing for investment today and also note the very substantial changes to the law delivered last year which will reduce multinational tax avoidance and which the Labor Party voted against. (Time expired)