Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. I refer to reports in The Australian indicating that the Turnbull government is preparing to shelve most of its $47.8 billion company tax cut. Is the government committed to the full $50 billion Enterprise Tax Plan?

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

Yes, we are.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I didn't ask you; I asked him.

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

Yes.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Farrell, a supplementary question.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On 4 May 2016, the Prime Minister said:

Ensuring that our company tax rate is competitive, ensuring that it is competitive with other economies, particularly those in our region, is absolutely critical to attract the investment into businesses in Australia …

Does the Prime Minister still believe that the $50 billion company tax cut is absolutely critical?

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

Yes.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Farrell, a final supplementary question.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

) ( ): On 9 September last year, when asked to name his greatest achievement since deposing former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Prime Minister Turnbull said 'reforms to business tax'. What reforms to business tax was the Prime Minister referring to?

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

He was referring to the reforms to business tax that the government has in mind. Senator Farrell, might I remind you, not that you need to be reminded—

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I raise a point of order. I asked a question about what the Prime Minister said his greatest achievements were, not future, potential achievements.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Farrell, you asked what reforms the Prime Minister was referring to, and the Attorney-General answered that exceptionally directly.

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

Might I remind you, Senator Farrell, that this is something that you used to believe in on your side of politics. You were a minister in a government, and you sat with Mr Shorten as a minister in a government, when Mr Shorten used to praise to the sky the importance of company tax cuts as an enabler of investment and a creator of jobs. But since you have been on the opposition side of the parliament, you and Mr Shorten have forgotten. Like on so many different occasions, Mr Shorten says one thing when in government and does the opposite when in opposition. When Mr Shorten was a minister, he saw the wisdom of company tax cuts, but he seems to have forgotten it now—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pause the clock. A point of order, Senator Farrell?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have a point of order, Mr President. I am talking here about the Prime Minister, not the Leader of the Opposition.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If the point of order is on relevance there is no point of order.

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

It would be nice to think that this was the only area of policy on which Mr Shorten is Australia's Olympic gold medal winning hypocrite, but I am afraid it is not. On every single area of policy, whether it be 457 visas— (Time expired)