Andrew Hastie (Canning, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This morning we saw once again Labor's transactional petty approach to policymaking. Reform of the backpacker tax has been long awaited by the fruitgrowers of Canning. The opposition has tried to slow its passage through the House, has shunted it off to a committee and has hobbled it in the Senate. Even now the government extended an olive branch, a compromise, so that we can get this bill passed for the sake of Australian producers, hospitality and the tourism industry. But Labor is not interested in backing these Australians. Labor would prefer to play politics to see the government bleed. Meanwhile, the Canning fruit growers of Roleystone, Karragullen and Pickering Brook continue to live with uncertainty as they lead into the new year.

The hypocrisy and incoherence is astounding. The opposition spokesman for agriculture held a press conference this morning, sticking by Labor's massive tax cut for workers, at the same time the opposition leader railed in the House about protecting Australian jobs. So which is it: Australians or foreign workers? You need to make up your minds. The opposition has said that we cannot afford a company tax cut for wealth-producing, job-creating, small to medium businesses; yet we can afford a tax cut for foreign workers. One Nation, the Nick Xenophon Team and Derryn Hinch have come together with the government to craft a compromise that satisfies all parties, setting the tax rate at 15 per cent. I suggest the opposition look to their example in future negotiations with the government.