Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis, and relates to negative gearing. Are retrospective changes to negative gearing on the table?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Gallagher, the Prime Minister has made the coalition's position on this matter perfectly clear.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am not sure it is perfectly clear to anyone else. Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I refer to the Minister for Finance's previous statement that the coalition opposes retrospective tax changes as 'a matter of principle.' Is this still the government's position?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It has always been the position of coalition governments to have an in-principle opposition to retrospectivity.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Can the minister explain how it is fair that someone buying their second, fifth or tenth property gets more help from the government than somebody who is trying to buy their first?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Because the government has no such proposal in mind, I do not accept the premise of your question.