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

Our commitment to a lower, more globally competitive business tax rate will deliver stronger growth, more investment, more jobs and higher wages. That is actually what none other than Mr Shorten used to say, and that's what none other than the shadow Treasurer, Chris Bowen, used to say. As Bill Shorten said, very eloquently:

… lowering the corporate rate for smaller businesses only … creates an artificial incentive for Australian businesses to downsize.

In worse case scenarios some businesses might actually lay people off to get smaller - and the size based different tax treatment would create a glass ceiling on business workforce growth.

Mr Shorten said:

Instead we want a level playing field regardless of the size of the company.

We believe what Mr Shorten used to believe, and that is that a commitment to the free market, to free enterprise and to reward for effort is the best opportunity for all Australians today and into the future to get ahead.