Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you—

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Once again, I remind senators that Senator McKim and any senator is entitled to have their question heard in silence.

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. Minister, Australia's billionaires have more than doubled their wealth in the last six years, so the 150 billionaires in this country have now hoarded an eye-watering $584 billion in wealth—it is in the hands of just 150 people. The Greens have a fully costed plan to tax billionaires at 10 per cent of their net wealth, which would raise $50 billion over the next decade. Interestingly, that is almost exactly what it would cost to fund free GP visits for every Australian. Will Labor work with the Greens to make billionaires pay their fair share of tax so every Australian can visit a GP with no out of pocket—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Kim, the time for asking has expired.

Senator McKim, when I call you to sit, that's what I expect. Perhaps you need to time your question.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

GALLAGHER (—) (): I thank Senator McKim for the question. No, Labor doesn't have any plans to adopt the Greens political party's revenue measures that you have outlined. I take note of the fact that you have said that they are fully costed policies, but the reality is that you can promise whatever you like but you never have to actually deliver it. This is the big difference between the Greens political party and a party of government, which has to look at a whole range of competing pressures on the budget and work out how to meet a whole range of needs.

We have a comprehensive tax agenda. We are trying to get superannuation tax concessions through this parliament, for example, which would raise revenue on those with superannuation accounts of greater than $3 million. We've been trying to do that. We've been unable to get that through this chamber to this point. But we have a range of measures, whether it be multinational tax reform or our tax cuts that we provided, which we made better and fairer for all Australians so that they could get a better share of those tax cuts that were designed under those opposite. We have been investing more than any government in Medicare because being able to see a doctor and having that bulk-billed is a priority for our government. The work that Minister Butler and Assistant Minister Kearney have been leading has been all about making sure that we stop Medicare from falling off a cliff, where it was heading under those opposite, that we address that and that we reinvest in it so we can provide quality health care at an affordable level for all Australians.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKim, first supplementary?

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

With Australia's billionaires each raking in a staggering $67,000 per hour every hour last year, how much wealth is too much for one person to have? How much richer will Australia's billionaires need to get before you make them pay their fair share of tax? Or will you keep siding with ultrawealthy billionaires indefinitely while everyday Australians are getting smashed by the cost-of-living crisis?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

(—) (): I listened to Senator McKim. We do have a progressive taxation system in this country and we do want everyone to pay their fair share of tax, which is why we have been focused on ensuring multinational tax reform passes this parliament—to make sure that those companies, when they are operating in Australia, are paying their fair share of tax. But I would also say to Senator McKim that we have ensured a tax cut for every taxpayer and energy bill relief for every household, we're getting wages moving again, we're investing in cheaper child care and in Medicare and we're providing cheaper medicines and fee-free TAFE. These are all things that the Labor government wants to do and invest in. We want to invest in our community and make sure that we are taxing people properly and that people do pay their fair share of tax. But I reject some of the propositions put by Senator McKim. We need to do what we can to make sure we're giving everyone a helping hand. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKim, second supplementary?

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just last week the Prime Minister said:

You judge a society not just by how it looks after the most wealthy, how it looks after the Gina Rineharts of this world, but how it looks after the vulnerable.

Given Ms Rinehart has added over $10 billion to her wealth since you took office, when will Labor start making her and other billionaires pay their fair share of tax so vulnerable Australians can live with a little more dignity?

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order my left! Senator McKenzie and Senator McKim, order! Senator McDonald, if you care to look, I am now on my feet. I beg your pardon, Senator Davey. From the start of question time, a number of senators in this place who I have called by name have been incredibly disrespectful and disorderly to the point that I've had to stand. I expect there to be silence when the question is answered. If you can't remain silent, I invite you to leave the chamber. Minister Gallagher.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll just let those two sides of the chamber—the extreme ends of those debates—argue a bit more at each other, but we as the government are making decisions in the best interests of all Australians, and we do have a focus on those who are most vulnerable. It is a key job of any government to make sure that those who need an extra helping hand are getting that extra helping hand and that there is opportunity for everyone, which is why all of the effort that we have put in in the last 2½ years has been to address areas where that wasn't happening enough and to make sure the budget can meet some of those pressures. I say again: if you look across the board in housing, healthcare, education, tax reform, energy and the transition to more renewable energy sources that, we have been focusing on making sure that we are addressing those who are most vulnerable in our community and making sure that everyone benefits from those types of policies. (Time expired)