Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

Labor will bring back the carbon tax. Of course, Labor, if they were re-elected to government, would also bring back the mining tax. How do I know this? The Labor member for Perth is already campaigning to bring back the mining tax. Again, Mr Shorten is saying, 'Oh, well, you know, perhaps not in the same form', and, 'We made some mistakes, but we've still got to get a return.' He is going to put all sorts of language around it and all sorts of weasel words. Labor will bring back the mining tax, which will hurt the economy, hurt jobs, hurt investment and slow Australia down.

How do I know this? Here is former Treasurer Wayne Swan—remember him? Remember former Treasurer Wayne Swan, who spent all the money he thought the mining tax would raise and more? Guess what? He is still spending the money he thought the mining tax would raise. Here he was the other day on ABC 24 saying that the money from the mining tax could be invested, and I am quoting him here, 'in tax reform or supporting other elements of public policy, such as education'. He is still spending money from the tax— (Time expired)