Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

The fact that we are back in here this evening to debate the Tax Laws Amendment (Luxury Car Tax—Minor Amendments) Bill 2008 is indicative of the fact that the Labor government got it badly wrong in relation to the luxury car tax surcharge legislation, which was part of its ill-considered budget measures in May of this year. Honourable senators may well recall the defeat of the luxury car tax legislation first up and then the government cobbling together a deal with the minor parties to ensure that it was passed. It was that cobbling together of a deal that has now caused them further problems which have required them to come back with amending legislation.

The luxury car tax surcharge legislation was in fact one of the first bits of legislation that was all Labor’s own work. As with everything that is all Labor’s own work, they could not get it right. Why did they not get it right? Firstly, they were more concerned about doing a deal than getting it right. Secondly, they thought they knew it all and that they did not have to consult with industry or departmental officials. That became blatantly obvious as a result of questions asked at Senate estimates as to consultations with the various departments. Indeed, during the committee stage of the legislation, I asked a number of questions as to with whom the government had consulted. When I asked whether such and such had been consulted, be it the union, the manufacturers, the tourism sector, Treasury or Tax, the answer was, ‘No, no, no.’ There was never any consultation.

The government supported those amendments, the majority of which we opposed. In their second reading speech, the government told us that the changes were needed as a result of a number of amendments from non-government senators. Talk about passing the buck! If Labor had not voted for those amendments, we would not be in the position tonight of having to re-amend the legislation. Of course, when we went through the committee stages discussing the technical details—and I wanted answers but the Senate was treated with a great degree of contempt and no answers were provided—we got this final smart alec comment from the minister sitting opposite, Senator Conroy.