Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

I was just reflecting on some of the confusion in the opposition after Mr Abbott’s lack of consultation about whether it was a tax, a levy or a surcharge. It makes me wish for the days of Rod Kemp. It really does. Tax, levy, surcharge—the memory ticks over. I wish the opposition could get it right. Is it a tax or not?

What we do not need this time with the economy recovering is a big new tax. The Labor government has put forward a responsible parental leave plan. Those opposite did nothing on parental leave for almost 12 years. Mr Abbott said that there would be a parental leave scheme over his dead body; there would be no new taxes, no increase in existing taxes. Of course, this week, he announces a big new tax to fund his parental leave scheme. This new tax is actually $11 billion over the forward estimates. (Time expired)