House debates

Wednesday, 16 February 2022

Statements

Personal Explanation

4:40 pm

Photo of Adam BandtAdam Bandt (Melbourne, Australian Greens) Share this | | Hansard source

Mr Deputy Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

Photo of Steve IronsSteve Irons (Swan, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Do you claim to have been misrepresented?

Photo of Adam BandtAdam Bandt (Melbourne, Australian Greens) Share this | | Hansard source

Yes.

Photo of Steve IronsSteve Irons (Swan, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

I call the member for Melbourne.

Photo of Adam BandtAdam Bandt (Melbourne, Australian Greens) Share this | | Hansard source

Thank you. Prior to question time, the member for Ryan, during a 90-second statement, referred to me and the Greens, saying that the Greens want to cut defence expenditure in half. That is not true. The Greens' policies are for defence expenditure to be 1.5 per cent of GDP, which I note is higher than Germany, Canada and Japan. That policy is on our website and has been there for some time.

Separately, during the course of question time, the Treasurer referred to me and the Greens, saying that I and the Greens want to impose an inheritance tax. As I've made clear, at this election our election platform does not include an inheritance tax. We do want a tax on billionaires and a tax on big corporations making super profits, and I would invite the Treasurer to, rather than misleading the House about non-existent taxes, come in and have a debate about the ones that we are actually taking to the election.