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

As I said to you in answer to your primary question, I am not familiar with Mr Gutwein's remarks, but I will have a look at them. But as you would be aware, coming from a small state, Senator Polley, the whole point of horizontal fiscal equalisation is to ensure that there is a reasonable level of equivalence between the services delivered to all the states of the Commonwealth and in all regions of the Commonwealth. Since you have raised the subject of taxation, may I remind you that it is your side of politics that has already, in its year of ideas, announced five new tax increases. By the way, that was before Mr Bowen's revealing interview last Thursday night, in which he said that the tax burden on Australians under a Labor government, were there to be one, would increase by $100 billion over the next 10 years. That is your tax policy, Senator Polley. You do not think Australians pay enough tax; we think they pay just enough. (Time expired)