Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Hansard source

Firstly, Senator Patrick has advised me that the story that is written by Rosie Lewis is incorrect, and no doubt he will explain that to the chamber at the appropriate time. There's no stone that the Labor Party would leave unturned in order to prevent Australians from getting a tax cut. There is no stone that the Labor Party will leave unturned to prevent working Australians keeping more of their own money in their pocket. Centre Alliance and Senator Lambie have made a decision to support good policy—policy which was endorsed by the Australian people, policy which is important to strengthen our economy, and policy, of course, which the Senate should support.

I would refer Senator Wong to what I've said consistently on the record for some time. I refer you, in particular, to a Sky interview on 14 June, which sums up our approach. I said:

We will continue to engage in good faith and constructively with all non-government senators. A range of issues have been raised, ranging from a desire to lower energy prices, which we share and we are pursuing, and various other issues. It is very important for your viewers to understand our government is absolutely committed to lower energy prices. We have a very ambitious agenda already to bring down energy prices, including by boosting the supply of gas into the domestic market. Of course, we are prepared to engage with non-government senators in relation to these matters. In the end, you have to make judgements on these matters on their own merit.

That is the important point. We are here today pursuing a policy to reduce income taxes for all working Australians. That is a policy that we commend to the Senate on its own merits, because it's an important economic policy, it's economically necessary, it's fiscally responsible and it is what the Australian people voted for. Furthermore, though, we have a longstanding commitment to bring electricity prices down. We have a longstanding track record of pursuing policy measures to drive down the cost of electricity, to drive down the cost of gas and to boost the supply of gas into the domestic market, in particular on the east coast. That is not a secret.

Of course, we have been engaging with Centre Alliance in relation to these matters, and we have committed to continue to work with them in good faith. As positions are finalised and as processes are put in place, we will of course announce all of these matters, as is appropriate. But here is the important point: we are working with all senators who are prepared to work with us on finding consensus and alignment with the government's policy agenda. We already have a longstanding policy agenda to drive down energy prices. That is well and truly understood. It's well and truly on the public record. When we're in a position the make further announcements about further policy initiatives in the future, of course, we will do that at the appropriate time.

This is nothing but the Labor Party trying to prevent the Senate from dealing with important legislation to deliver income tax relief to all working Australians. I think that everyone can see through what this is about. I think that senators should just get on with it, should deal with the legislation that's in front of us, should deal with the amendments and should make sure that, by the end of next week, millions of working Australians can keep more of their own money in their own pockets.