Senate debates
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
Appropriation (Nation Building and Jobs) Bill (No. 1) 2008-2009; Appropriation (Nation Building and Jobs) Bill (No. 2) 2008-2009; Household Stimulus Package Bill 2009; Tax Bonus for Working Australians Bill 2009; Tax Bonus for Working Australians (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2009; Commonwealth Inscribed Stock Amendment Bill 2009
In Committee
11:27 am
Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law) Share this | Hansard source
The point is that your critique of a group of people in society and what they choose to do with their money was very offensive. That is my point. It has been coming through from a number of opposition senators. We have seen it. The point I make is that it is inappropriate, as it would be inappropriate to criticise high-income earners for spending their tax cuts in whatever way they wished to. I would like to see more done about smoking, particularly because I smoke. I would like to see more effective programs to discourage smoking, because it has not worked for me so far, sadly. I would like to see less money spent on gambling—I worked in a casino for the first three years of my working life and I did not like what I saw. But do not lecture people who may occasionally go in and spend $10 or whatever it is. Do not lecture them in that way. It is highly offensive. I have actually had quite a number of comments from people in the community about this persistent theme coming through from the Liberal-National Party about this particular issue. They do not want to be lectured that they cannot go to McDonald’s and buy a meal for their kids. They do not want that sort of lecture. They do not want to be lectured that at Christmas they cannot have an extra couple of beers. I hope that that sort of criticism ceases.
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