George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

No, it is not. Mr Baird is expressing views, and one of those views is that there should be an increase in the GST. We welcome the expression of Mr Baird's view, just as we welcome the expression, as I mentioned a moment ago, of a like view by the Labor Premier of South Australia, Mr Jay Weatherill, who is also calling for an increase in the GST, as we welcome the expression of a like view by the Liberal Premier of Western Australia, who has called for an increase in the rate of the GST, as we welcome the view of the former Labor Premier of Queensland, Mr Peter Beattie, who has called for an increase in the rate of the GST. We welcome the expression of those views, just as we welcome the expression of the view of Senator Bernardi to the contrary effect, because we are having a public discussion. But the Turnbull government is not proposing an increase in the rate of the GST.