Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Members in this chamber might remember Joh Bjelke-Petersen's horrific vision for Australia. At the heart of his vision in his 'Joh for Canberra' campaign was the notion of a flat tax. That's what Joh campaigned for. Back then he was ridiculed. He was laughed at. He was told that this does not represent the Australia that we believe in. And, today, Joh's vision for Australia—flat taxation, dog-eat-dog, a place where, if you've got a job and you're doing well, the government will look after you and, if you're down on your luck, well, tough luck—is the vision that is emerging as the political consensus within this parliament. Apart from the Greens' strident opposition in this parliament, that is what we are seeing as the emerging consensus position.

These tax cuts are completely at odds with the notion of an egalitarian Australia. We know what they'll do. They'll rip billions of dollars out of our budget. They'll gut our schools and hospitals. They'll stop us from looking after people on Newstart. They'll prevent us from spending the money on infrastructure to modernise our energy system and our transport system. They are going to turbocharge economic inequality in this country. Scott Morrison wants Australia to become Trump's America, with their rampant inequality. He wants to create a permanent underclass of working poor, a privatised health system and massive student debt. That's what happens when you rip billions of dollars out of essential public services and hand it to the wealthiest Australians. This is a disgrace and it is being supported by Jacqui Lambie and Centre Alliance. They're all for it.