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

Let me say at the outset that that is a misrepresentation of what the Prime Minister said. Under our long-term plan to provide income tax relief for families a 60-year-old aged care worker in Tasmania will in fact get a tax cut before anybody else. The second thing I would say is that, on this side of the chamber, we have the great aspiration that all Australians of any age in any profession should have the best possible opportunity to get ahead. Not only do we want to leave them with more of their own money by providing them with a tax cut now but we also want them to have the incentive to pursue a career, get ahead and pursue other job opportunities. We are not as ageist as the Labor Party, who suggest that somebody at 60 years of age is unable to go into a better-paid job if that is what they want to do. We want anyone who is working hard in a job they enjoy to have more of their own money. We don't want them to go backwards as a result of bracket creep. We don't want them to be pushed into higher income tax brackets because of inflation. That is why we are pursuing our long-term plan for income tax relief, but we also want to ensure that all working Australians of any age have the right incentive, the right encouragement and the right reward for effort so they have the best possible opportunity to get ahead.