Steve Hutchins (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Talk about unbelievable—this is coming from a member of the National Party from New South Wales. One thing Senator Nash did not talk about was the National Party’s position on the Liverpool Plains, where they think they can have a position about opposing mining in central western New South Wales, which is going to create a lot of employment, and at the same time come down here and barrack for the miners and say that the tax will, as I think she said, ‘threaten jobs and lose jobs’.

I have been going out that way as well, Senator Nash. Most people know what sort of hypocrites the National Party are. You cannot have home and away games. You cannot go and protest on the Liverpool Plains to stop mining and then come down here and barrack for the miners. You cannot do that. That is unbelievable. Everybody in New South Wales knows that about the National Party. Even your journal, your bible, the Land, comments on the dual position of the National Party.

I want to talk about some of the contributions that have been made in relation to this tax today. Senator Bushby quoted a progressive conservative—that is what they call themselves—government minister in Canada. I wonder where the unprogressive conservatives are. I am assuming they are on the other side over here, because we have this opportunistic, progressive conservative cabinet minister in Canada claiming that they will do quite well out of the introduction of this tax. Last week the opposition pulled out a quote from a conservative minister from the Chilean government claiming that they would do well out of the tax. I think they pulled out a quote from someone from Brazil. I think it was a socialist minister from Brazil. They found him. In fact, I think Senator Mason and Senator Brandis wanted to make a contribution about whether the Cuban ministers had made a contribution about the proposed tax.

The fact is, Mr Deputy President—and you with your experience know this as well as I do—that once this tax is introduced in this country other Western nations will introduce the same tax. You know that as well as I do. Do not be misled by these opportunistic statements by fellow members of the dark side of politics. Do not be misled. You know that, I know that and everybody else knows that. The only person from the mining countries that the coalition have not quoted so far is President Chavez of Venezuela, who opportunistically just nationalises private industry.

We know, as everybody else in public life knows, that to change tax and introduce reform is difficult. In the history of this Commonwealth it has not been done without a lot of debate and controversy. As I recall from reading history, the transfer of income tax powers from the states to the Commonwealth after or during World War II—I cannot recall which—was accompanied by a lot of debate. In fact we have a secessionist over here, Senator Back, who probably would have opposed it in the forties and continues to oppose any sort of contribution by Western Australia to the rest of the Commonwealth.

You know as well as I do, Mr Deputy President, that the introduction of the goods and services tax in this country was bitterly contested by this side and your side. It was introduced by Prime Minister Howard and he fought an election on it. As I said, it was controversial and it was contested. We are introducing another tax that is equally controversial and contested. It should be taken with a grain of salt that of course the large mining companies have a lot of self-interest in this. I have never met anybody who wants to pay tax. I have never met anybody who wants to pay any more tax. Understandably, they are arguing as best they can.

In my final seconds, I want to remind people what we are going to do with that increased money. We are going to reduce company tax. We are going to invest in infrastructure and boost national savings through increased superannuation contributions. It is going to be a great legacy that this government leaves Australia.