Ross Cadell (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I also rise today as part of the Youth Voice to Parliament, which is an initiative by Raise Our Voice. Today I speak in this chamber for 11-year-old Jacob Tubui, a year 6 student at Sacred Heart School in Cabramatta. I spoke earlier today with Jacob and his teacher Mrs Gonzalez. When asked what Australia's new parliament should accomplish, Jacob prepared the following speech:

I firmly believe that the new Australian Government should assist the people of Australia by lowering taxes. Taxes aren't helping. They are way too high, and they don't motivate people to work.

Good afternoon my name is Jacob and I don't technically live in Fowler but my school is located here. I strongly believe that the growth in taxes will not help the economy in any way. Taxes can have many varieties of charges.

Taxes are chargeable when you work more, so the more you spend all your effort on working just to survive, you will get taxed more.

Citizens are working hours just to be taxed four to five percent of their income from working and this can be higher the more you work.

In about 15 years I would start to work and wouldn't be motivated to put in the time and effort it takes to work just for the government to take a percentage out of your income.

People who don't have a decent income from work shouldn't be charged tax at all. I hope this message spreads and that taxes should be lowered immediately because it does not help the economy with anything. Instead, it tells citizens that their hard-earned money is being taken.

I really hope the new Australian Government can help to lower taxes for all the people of this great nation. Thank you.

To Jacob: thank you for your effort, good luck with your studies and I wish you a happy future.