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

Senator Urquhart, that is not the Prime Minister's view and that was not the policy that he raised for discussion with first ministers at COAG. The proposal that he raised for discussion with first ministers at COAG was a policy which would have enabled the state governments to levy an income tax in circumstances in which the Commonwealth withdrew an equivalent amount of income tax so as not to result in any net increase in income tax for Australians. Senator Urquhart, as you know, that proposal was raised with first ministers and, with the exception of the Premier of Western Australia, Mr Barnett, that proposal did not find favour with first ministers and was not proceeded with.