Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to incorporate the government’s position in relation to the Greens’ second reading amendment and the government’s position in relation to the minerals resource rent tax.

Leave granted.

The document read as follows—

• The Government does not support the second reading amendment.
• This amendment by the Greens confirms that this Bill would have a financial impact. It recognises that the Bill is in fact a money bill. The Government's view remains that this Bill is unconstitutional.
• On the substance of the Greens proposal, the Government does not support any increase in the Minerals Resources Rent Tax.
• The MRRT package announced in July last year will provide a fairer return for Australia's resources and let us cut tax for small business, boost superannuation, simplify personal tax and invest in infrastructure.
• The Government will implement the MRRT within the framework announced in July last year.
• We have an agreement with the mining industry, and we are going to stick to that agreement.
• It is important that we get a fairer return for Australia's resources, but it is also important that it is workable for the industry.
• For those reasons, the Government will not be supporting the Bill, and we will not be supporting this second reading amendment.

That is very germane to this debate. I ask that it be circulated immediately.

Are you agreeable to that, Senator Collins?

Yes

All right. That will be circulated.