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

Let me just say right up front that the government doesn't have any plans at present to reduce the level of taxation that applies to the purchase of cars. Of course, on this side of the chamber, the coalition is always committed to ensuring that the tax burden is as low as possible—as high as necessary, but also as low as possible. We always focus on making sure that taxation arrangements are as efficient as possible, as least distorting on the economy as possible and that they are also fair.

Our priority at the moment, as a government, is to reduce the tax burden on business. Eighty seven per cent of Australians are employed in the private sector. By making sure that our business tax rate is internationally competitive we are able to attract additional investment and we are able to ensure that our economy continues to grow and we are able to ensure that businesses which are more successful can hire more Australians and pay them better wages. So our focus is on making our tax system more growth friendly, so that we can encourage business to be more successful and more profitable so that Australian workers have the best possible opportunity to get ahead. We do not have any plans at present along the lines that Senator Bernardi is asking about.