Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Hansard source

That was more about making a political statement and engaging in rhetoric than it was a question. I do not think anyone in this chamber seriously thinks Senator Edwards was asking me for any information. He is making a political point.

The political point I make in response to that political point is this: if you care about suffocating policies, surely a $1,300 tax on every household in Australia—which is what you are proposing—is far worse for the economy and far worse for Australian households. Surely, reducing the incentive to work by increasing taxes on those earning under $80,000 is precisely the sort of suffocating economic policy that you would think the Liberal Party would oppose, but no. This is their policy. The senator can come in here and again try to run a scare campaign tactic when it comes to carbon pricing, although I now note it is 'suffocating' as opposed to some of the more outlandish claims, but the fact is, his policy will cost more. (Time expired)