Mark Furner (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Or less. I take that interjection, Senator Bilyk. Tony Abbott had no problems in his election promises with implementing a levy on big business to fund paid parental leave last year, but he is not prepared to support a levy on Australians who earn more than $50,000 to help rebuild our flood affected areas. In fact, he commented in the Herald Sun on 13 March last year—note the contradiction:

The difference between a levy and a tax is that a levy is for a specific purpose and this is for a specific purpose.

This is exactly what our proposal for a levy is all about. His hypocrisy is so stark in this debate. This week Tony Abbott announced his alternative to the flood levy—in fact, you would describe it as his own personal view, with his own opposition cabinet members disagreeing on one of his proposals: to cut foreign aid to Africa.

Despite the flood and cyclone crisis Treasurer Wayne Swan has confirmed that the budget is still on track and is to be in surplus by 2012-13. It is through the federal government’s financial discipline and great economic management during the global financial crisis that we will put the budget back in the black. In the Treasurer’s economic note of 23 January Mr Swan revealed the labour force figures showing that the unemployment rate fell from 5.2 per cent to five per cent in December. In fact, 2010 was a record, with 364,000 jobs created—and 80 per cent of those were filled by full-time positions.

Third parties, including the Business Council of Australia, have also praised our economic management. The BCA stated in its budget submission in 2009-10:

The BCA considers that the government has so far responded well to the downturn in the economy and to the issues related to the global financial crisis. The BCA welcomes recent policy decisions by the government that have redirected spending towards building capacity and longterm growth.

So this government, the Labor government, will act swiftly and appropriately with this particular levy and this particular natural disaster.

In closing, the opposition had another blow recently. The opposition leader came out recently, at a time when Queenslanders are recovering from the greatest natural disaster this country has ever faced, trying to deal with their flood-inundated homes, protecting themselves from the greatest cyclone Queensland has ever faced, and commenced his mudslinging routine. He should hang his head in shame, do the honourable thing and resign. I am sure that those opposite will make sure that happens as soon as possible.