Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

It is well understood by all credible economists that a lower, more competitive business tax rate will help attract additional investment into business activity in Australia. It will help to boost productivity. It will help to generate more jobs. And, over time, it will help to increase real wages. 'Do not take my word for it'—that is what the opposition leader, Bill Shorten, used to say. That is what the shadow Treasurer, Chris Bowen, used to say. That is what the shadow assistant Treasurer, Andrew Leigh, used to say. That is what Paul Keating used to say—and, indeed, that is what Paul Keating actually did. We know that for purely base political reasons—in the shadow of an election—the Labor Party took a different view, in the context of this election, but we call on the Labor Party to reconsider the national interest and to reflect on what they stood for in the past. In the past none other than Bill Shorten, Chris Bowen and, indeed, Senator Wong argued that a lower, more competitive business tax rate will help attract investment and generate more jobs. (Time expired)