Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Aged Care) Share this | Hansard source

It is always a joy to follow on from Senator Macdonald, as we can actually put some facts on the table. Fact number 1 is: each and every year, for Australians that smoke, over 15,000 people die from smoke-related illnesses. The economic and social cost of smoking is estimated at $31.5 billion a year. Labor's plan to continue raising tobacco tax will bring us in line with 33 other countries, help to drive down smoking and save thousands of lives.

When we unveiled our policy last November to continue the existing annual increases in tobacco excise, the Assistant Treasurer dismissed the idea as another tax hike, while the Treasurer said that, when it comes to tax reform, we have a very small and inconsistent appetite and that we are fringe dweller when it comes to the issue of economic change and reform in this country. But last week we welcomed reports that the Turnbull government was set to back our world-leading tobacco policy, which is based evidence based and in line with international best practice.

On Senator Macdonald's contribution about tax, it was not that long ago that those on this side of the chamber and the public said—and it was only because of them—that they would not swallow the 15 per cent GST on everything. The government were all set to increase the GST—that is a fact. That is what they had planned. Also, they said that they would never put taxes on superannuation. Now, they are. The government said they would not support an increase in tobacco tax, but they are now going to do it. The Prime Minister and government said one thing before an election and have done something quite different. We know that Mr Turnbull is very good at having these thought bubbles, but the good thing about them is that most of them do not last from morning to night.

The reality is that the government will do nothing to ensure multinational companies pay their fair amount of tax. They will tax mums and dads, they will make cuts when it comes to family payments, they will attack penalty rates for some of the lowest workers in this country and they will want to introduce, as they already have tried, $100,000 for a university degree. We know that the government have made cuts under an attack on Medicare. That is what the government are about.

This is an important topic—of course, it is—because we as a Labor government introduced plain packaging for cigarettes in this country. In fact, we led the world. So we know the importance of it. It is one of the indicators that we believe will work and go a long way to reduce smoking in this country.

The government has brought the Senate back this week to parliament not to talk about the issues that matter to the Australian community, not to talk about jobs and creating jobs, not to talk about health and the cuts that they have made to hospitals around the country and the cuts that they have made to state governments when it comes to education. The fact is they have backed away from funding Gonski for five and six years, which will have an enormous impact on the children of this country. If funded, which we are committed to doing, it will actually drive the economy going into the future. The Treasurer cannot even communicate with the Prime Minister. They are not even on reasonable terms, but we are supposed to accept the ramblings and waffling on from not only Senate but also the current Prime Minister.

We on this side will do what we believe is in the interests of the country not just in the interest of our own survival. What is happening now is the government are panicking because, all of a sudden, the polls are showing that they are in trouble. If you actually go out and meet the people on the streets, if you listen to them and if you actually meet the constituents in your electorate offices, then you will understand that there is a lot of concern in the community. The concern is that they have been dudded. Malcolm Turnbull told the Australian people that he could do better—that is why he needed to roll Tony Abbot; that is why he knifed Tony Abbott. But the reality is: he is no different. The only thing about Tony Abbott that Malcolm Turnbull is different from is that he wears a better suit. The 2014 budget and all those cuts are still the policies the government will take to the next election. (Time expired)