Rod Kemp (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for the Arts and Sport) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Milne, I was just quoting you as an expert, and now I am quoting the head of the IMF. The head of the IMF, who probably has slightly more experience in this area, does not share your view. Some listeners would say that it was a touch of irony that you were talking about a possible future collapse in mineral exports when, if the Greens had had their way, no new mines would be developed and we would not have mineral exports. So I think there could be seen to be a touch of hypocrisy there, Senator Milne—but I will not go further than that, because it would be breaching standing orders. I would have to say that, for the Greens to be weeping over what they forecast as a possible downturn in mineral exports, when Senator Milne and her colleagues devote much of their waking hours to stopping any major new developments, their tears would seem to be crocodile tears—to put it as nicely as possible.

Senator Milne has proposed some changes to this tax bill. The government will not be agreeing with them. The point I would also make, Senator Milne, is that we have vigorous debates with the Democrats on a variety of issues, but the Democrats, to their credit, engage. They engage across a wide range of issues. They talk to the government and seek to bring about change in government policy. I am happy to say that they do not often succeed but, on a number of major issues—and I mentioned tax reform—the Democrats must take some credit for bringing about very significant changes in our economy and in the way taxes are imposed. The Democrats were far more farsighted than the Labor Party—who have now hopped on the bus but were not to be seen when the hard yards were being done—and the Greens.

Senator Milne, you are still a comparatively new face in this chamber. When the history of this period is written, someone will ask: ‘What change did the Greens bring about? They held the balance of power for a number of years. What major reforms did the Greens engage the Howard government on?’ I would have to say that it would be the smallest history book in the world.