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

The Australian government and the Prime Minister have no plan for double taxation. What we have is a plan to keep taxes low. We have a plan to ensure that there is no increase in the overall level of taxation on Australian families. That is our plan. I am not familiar with the remarks made by the Treasurer of Tasmania, but after question time I will look them out. Senator Polley, I am glad you raised this question of taxation, because you are right to apprehend that it is one of the big, big differences between your side of politics and mine. On my side of politics what we want to do is to keep the tax burden low and to ensure that there is no increase in the overall level of taxation upon Australian taxpayers, families and businesses.

The contrast could not be more stark between our attitude and the attitude of the Australian Labor Party. As we heard from Mr Chris Bowen, interviewed by Tony Jones on Lateline as recently as last Thursday night, the Australian Labor Party intends to raise an extra $100 billion from taxpayers—

Senator O'Sullivan interjecting—

Yes, you heard it right, Senator O'Sullivan—an extra $100 billion from Australian taxpayers over the next 10 years. If that were not bad enough, there was no commitment from Mr Bowen to return one dollar of that extra taxation to the budget bottom line. We have our plan for there to be no increase in the overall level of taxation; your plan is to increase taxation.