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Government defends tax plan while attacking Labor on dual citizenship – politics live Budget reply speech: Bill Shorten to promise $470m boost to Tafe – politics live
(about 3 hours later)
Getting back to the speech:
“Now Mr Speaker, every Australia understands that wages have grown by 2% in the past year, slower than the price of things you need to buy, way less than your bills.
“Yet this government in its budget is pretending that wages will increase by over 13% in the next four years. We know that the Liberals haven’t the slightest idea of how this will be achieved.
“And when the current wages system is demonstrably not delivering for workers, they are dreaming.
“If they think that same system will magically deliver much better outcomes. Tonight Labor has shown that we are a party of lower taxes for working and middle-class families, and for more than 120 years we have been the party of higher wages for workers.
“We have a real wages policy.
“Our wages policy will restore Sunday penalty rates, will crack down on wages theft, the abuse of labour hire, where companies shift their permanent jobs on to labour hire jobs just to cut their pay.
“We will get enterprise bargaining off life support and employees and employers back to the negotiating table, for more productive work places, more profitable enterprises and higher wages, and we will lead a new push to deliver genuine pay equity for Australia’s working women.”
It seems there are some Bill Shorten fans in the gallery
Bill Shorten tries to hush to galleries, they started to chant “BIll Bill Bill” when he entered the chamber to deliver his budget reply tonight @AmyRemeikis @GuardianAus @murpharoo #politicslive pic.twitter.com/lMUj5aLwe9
So the headline item there is Labor plans on doubling the government’s tax off-set plan.
The opposition has costed its tax plan at $5.8 billion over the next four years.
Under Labor’s plan, this is the size of the offset:
$20,000 - $0
$25,000 - $350
$30,000 - $350
$35,000 - $ 350
$40,000 - $508
$45,000 - $770
$50,000 - $ 928
$55,000 - $928
$60,000 - $ 928
$65,000 - $ 928
$70,000 - $928
$75,000 - $928
$80,000 - $928
$85,000 - $928
$90,000 - $928
$95,000 - $796
$100,000- $665
$105,000 - $534
$110,000 - $402
$115,000 - $271
$120,000 - $140
Bill Shorten has taken to the floor to give the traditional opposition budget-in-reply speech. It’s convention for the opposition leader to give the speech, rather than the shadow treasurer
“My fellow Australians (bold by Labor)
As I listened to the government’s fifth budget on Tuesday night, I knew immediately:
We can do better than this.
The people of Australia deserve better than this.
And a Labor Government will deliver better than this.
Better than ten years of cuts to schools and hospitals – in exchange for $10 a week.
$10 a week.
That’s all the Liberals think it will take, for you to forgive and forget.
They think for $10, you’ll forget they tried to put up your taxes last year.
For $10, you’ll forgive waiting two years for a hip replacement.
For $10, you won’t care about cuts to your child’s school.
That for $10, you won’t mind your internet’s no good and your local Tafe is closing and your daughter can’t find a place at uni.
They think if you get $10 a week, you won’t notice you’re losing $70 in penalty rates from your Sunday pay.
And this prime minister is so out of touch, he thinks if you get $10 a week – you’ll be fine with the banks getting a $17 billion giveaway.
The Liberals desperately want you to believe this budget is fair.
But here’s what the prime minister isn’t telling you:
• His $715 million cut to hospitals is still in the budget.
• His $17 billion cut to schools is still in the budget.
• And his $80 billion handout to big business, banks and multinationals is still in the budget.
This budget still cuts money from universities – and it contains a sneaky new $270 million cut to public Tafe.
The prime minister is still cutting $14 from pensioners every fortnight.
He’s cutting dental care for veterans, he’s cutting the ABC – yet again.
He’s keeping Medicare frozen for specialists, he’s even keeping the GST on tampons.
And he is still increasing the retirement age to 70.
So tonight, ask yourself:
If your family relies on any of these services, what kind of future is this prime minister offering you?
My fellow Australians, I’m here tonight to outline Labor’s plan to bring the Fair Go back to the heart of our nation.
• A plan to properly fund health and education
• To provide real help with your family budget
• And to invest in the next generation of opportunity for Australia
It’s a plan we can afford – because we’re not going to spend $80 billion of public money on big business and the big banks.
And it’s a plan that will work, because Australia thrives when middle class and working class people can get ahead.
Tonight is about a Fair Go for everyone who wants the best for their kids and their future.
A Fair Go for every part of our nation – from the bush and the regions to our cities and growing suburbs.
And a Fair Go for the real forgotten people: working families, pensioners and Australians doing it tough.
INCOME TAX
Mr Speaker our plan begins with a better and fairer tax system.
After years of flat wages, rising power bills and increasing health costs, it’s time for a fair-dinkum tax cut for middle class and working class Australians.
I’ve already said Labor will support the government’s modest tax cuts starting 1 July this year.
And tonight, I announce a Labor Government will go further and do better on tax cuts for working and middle income Australians.
We will support the government’s tax cut this year – and in our first budget, we will deliver a bigger and better tax cut for 10 million working Australians.
Almost double.
This is my pledge to 10 million working Australians:
Under Labor, you will pay less income tax – because I think you are more important than multinationals, banks and big business.
In our first term of government, a teacher on $65,000 will be $2780 better off under Labor - an extra $928 a year.
A married couple - one partner in the ADF earning $90,000 and the other working in aged care on $50,000 - will be $5565 better off under Labor, $1855 a year.
Labor can afford to do more to help you and your family because we’re not giving $80 billion to big business and the big four banks.
And because we’ve already made the hard choices for Budget repair.
• Creating a level playing field for first-home buyers, by reforming negative gearing and capital gains
• Cracking down on tax avoidance by eliminating income-splitting in trusts –without affecting farmers.
• And ending unsustainable tax credits for people who pay no income tax – while protecting pensioners and charities.
Mr Speaker,
At the next election there will be a very clear choice on tax:
10 million Australians will pay less tax under Labor.
We can afford to cut your taxes, without cutting services, because unlike the Liberals, we’re not wasting $80 billion on a discredited giveaway to the top end of town.
DEBT
Mr Speaker,
Labor’s plans mean we can deliver the winning trifecta in government:
• A genuine tax cut for middle and working class Australians
• Proper funding for schools, hospitals and the safety net
• And paying back more of Australia’s national debt, faster.
There was a time, I remember, when the Liberals ran around saying a debt of $227 billion was a “budget emergency” and a national crisis.
I remember, when they were elected, they said every man, woman and child, owed $9,000
But on Tuesday night, I don’t remember hearing the Treasurer admit that debt has doubled under the Liberals.
I don’t remember him admitting that it’s now: $21,778 for every man, woman and child.
I don’t remember him admitting that next year, total interest payments on Australian debt will pass $18 billion.
$18 billion, every year.
That’s more than the commonwealth spends on the NDIS or aged care or child care – it’s twice as much as Australia spends on public schools.
And the Liberals’ only strategy is to cross their fingers and hope.
That’s not good enough in a time of trade conflict between America and China, in an age of soaring global debt and rising US bond markets.
No Australian government can prevent global bad news – but good governments do prepare for it.
This isn’t the time to blow everything because of a short-term economic upswing. That would be an act of generational folly.
It might not be fashionable, but it’s time to be responsible.
Labor’s economic reforms have put us in a much stronger position to cope with international uncertainty, over the decade.
We can pay down national debt, faster - because we’re not giving $80 billion to multinationals – and because we’ve made the tough decisions.
PROGRESSIVE TAX
Mr Speaker
On Tuesday night, we discovered the Liberals are planning to radically re-write the tax rules in this country.
And the more Australians learn about this scheme, the less they like it.
Australians have got every right to ask, how can it be fair?
How can it be fair for a carer on $40,000 to pay the same tax rate as a doctor on $200,000?
For a cleaner to pay the same tax rate as a CEO?
How can it be fair that, under this tax experiment: the doctor earns five times as much as the nurse – but his tax cut is16 times bigger?
And today, new research revealed that under this plan, 6 in every $10 will go to the wealthiest 20% of Australians.
Very quickly, this is starting to look like a mate’s rates tax plan from the Liberal Party.
And at a time of flat wages, rising inequality and a growing sense of unfairness in the community.
When too many jobseekers are stuck in poverty, when children go to school hungry, when women fleeing family violence can’t find safe accommodation …
… people are worried this plan isn’t fair or affordable.
And, frankly, Australians are also entitled to be pretty suspicious of this whole thing.
To wonder if this ‘come and talk to me after two elections’ plan, this promise on the never-never, will ever happen.
My team and I are ready to vote for tax cuts for working families.
And we will not allow the Prime Minister to threaten to block tax cuts for 10 million Aussies, unless the parliament writes a cheque for the wealthiest.
Yes they are
The bells are ringing, likely for the final time this week.
One little bit of early news – Labor plans on scrapping upfront fees for 100,000 Tafe students as part of a $470 million plan to “boost Tafe, apprenticeships and skills for Australians”.
“In the last five years, more than $3 billion has been cut from Tafe and training, and Australia has 140,000 fewer apprentices today than we did when the Liberals were first elected,” Bill Shorten said in a statement before his speech to parliament.
“... This has reduced employment opportunities for middle and working class people, including women, young people and workers retraining later in life.
“It has also limited our capacity to meet demand in growing occupations in the disability, aged care, and technology focused sectors.”
Labor has also vowed to invest $100 million in “modernising” Tafe campuses around the nation, “guarantee” at least two out of three Commonwealth training dollars goes to Tafe (this was also an election commitment).
The party has also recommitted to its election vow to ensure “one in every 10 jobs on commonwealth priority projects are filled by Australian apprentices”, provide 10,000 pre-apprentice programs and 20,000 adult apprentice programs.
The Tafe plan has been budgeted at $473 million over the next four years and $708 million over the next decade.
Bill Shorten’s speech is due in the next 30 minutes.
I am going to hand the blog over for a short while, so I can take a quick break ahead of budget-in-reply.I am going to hand the blog over for a short while, so I can take a quick break ahead of budget-in-reply.
Play nicely. I’ll see you back here, just before 7pm.Play nicely. I’ll see you back here, just before 7pm.
Josh Frydenberg is fighting back against Labor’s attacks on the Coalition’s renewable energy policy.Josh Frydenberg is fighting back against Labor’s attacks on the Coalition’s renewable energy policy.
From his statement:From his statement:
Mark Butler’s latest feeble attempts to criticise the government’s record on renewable energy and jobs brings to mind the old aphorism: Better to remain silent and be thought misinformed, than to speak and remove all doubt.Mark Butler’s latest feeble attempts to criticise the government’s record on renewable energy and jobs brings to mind the old aphorism: Better to remain silent and be thought misinformed, than to speak and remove all doubt.
Mr Butler, who hasn’t asked a question of me in the parliament for over 200 days, claims:Mr Butler, who hasn’t asked a question of me in the parliament for over 200 days, claims:
The government is “anti-renewables” and undermining renewable jobs.The government is “anti-renewables” and undermining renewable jobs.
The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) is reducing its investment plans in the budget papers due to the government having a “war on renewables” and the national energy guarantee.The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) is reducing its investment plans in the budget papers due to the government having a “war on renewables” and the national energy guarantee.
But here are the facts:But here are the facts:
Almost 1m jobs have been created in the economy since the Coalition was elected and 2017 was the strongest year of jobs growth on record. Our record on jobs is clear.Almost 1m jobs have been created in the economy since the Coalition was elected and 2017 was the strongest year of jobs growth on record. Our record on jobs is clear.
Jobs in the renewable energy sector increased 33% last year, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Jobs in large-scale renewable energy are at their highest on record.Jobs in the renewable energy sector increased 33% last year, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Jobs in large-scale renewable energy are at their highest on record.
Renewable energy sector jobs fell under Labor by 13% or 2,500 in their last year in office.Renewable energy sector jobs fell under Labor by 13% or 2,500 in their last year in office.
Last year, was Australia’s biggest ever year for renewables and more than $12bn and more than 7,000 MW of investment is now underway, according the Clean Energy Regulator.Last year, was Australia’s biggest ever year for renewables and more than $12bn and more than 7,000 MW of investment is now underway, according the Clean Energy Regulator.
According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, in 2017, Australia was the world’s third-highest clean energy investor on a per-capita basis – four [times] the investment per capita of China, five times [of] France.According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, in 2017, Australia was the world’s third-highest clean energy investor on a per-capita basis – four [times] the investment per capita of China, five times [of] France.
The CEFC used identical forecast figures in this year’s budget as last year’s budget – before the Neg even existed.The CEFC used identical forecast figures in this year’s budget as last year’s budget – before the Neg even existed.
The CEFC has confirmed there has been no change in the CEFC’s forecast of commitments or anticipated draws from the CEFC special account as a result of the Neg.The CEFC has confirmed there has been no change in the CEFC’s forecast of commitments or anticipated draws from the CEFC special account as a result of the Neg.
Rather than increasingly desperate dog whistling to its left flank, Labor should be explaining to the Australian people:Rather than increasingly desperate dog whistling to its left flank, Labor should be explaining to the Australian people:
Why it wants to put Australian jobs at risk with its reckless emissions reduction targets that it has no idea or plan how to reachWhy it wants to put Australian jobs at risk with its reckless emissions reduction targets that it has no idea or plan how to reach
Why is it abandoning 900,000 jobs in Australia’s manufacturing sector with its policies to increase prices and decrease reliabilityWhy is it abandoning 900,000 jobs in Australia’s manufacturing sector with its policies to increase prices and decrease reliability
Why it wants to take South Australian Labor’s failed 50% renewable energy target experiment nationalWhy it wants to take South Australian Labor’s failed 50% renewable energy target experiment national
Why it joined in with the Greens in the Senate to pass a motion to “encourage” the closure of coal-fired power stations, selling out blue-collared workers in regional Australia for inner city green votesWhy it joined in with the Greens in the Senate to pass a motion to “encourage” the closure of coal-fired power stations, selling out blue-collared workers in regional Australia for inner city green votes
Just a reminder – Bill Shorten will deliver the budget-in-reply speech at around 7.30pm.Just a reminder – Bill Shorten will deliver the budget-in-reply speech at around 7.30pm.
We’ll be keeping the blog open to cover it, and his interview with 7.30 immediately after.We’ll be keeping the blog open to cover it, and his interview with 7.30 immediately after.
And from Mike Bowers lens to your eyeballs:And from Mike Bowers lens to your eyeballs:
Susan Lamb’s resignation means Emma Husar has a new seat buddy.Susan Lamb’s resignation means Emma Husar has a new seat buddy.
The Greens’ Rachel Siewert moved a motion in the Senate to increase Newstart by $75 a week, which was defeated, with Labor and the government combining to vote it down.The Greens’ Rachel Siewert moved a motion in the Senate to increase Newstart by $75 a week, which was defeated, with Labor and the government combining to vote it down.
“Despite the broad group of economists, business and social service organisations saying that the payment definitely needs to be increased, both major parties are showing cowardice,” Siewert said in a statement.“Despite the broad group of economists, business and social service organisations saying that the payment definitely needs to be increased, both major parties are showing cowardice,” Siewert said in a statement.
“The rate of Newstart does not need to be ‘reviewed’; it needs to increase urgently, and the ALP knows this.“The rate of Newstart does not need to be ‘reviewed’; it needs to increase urgently, and the ALP knows this.
“It has been well established that it is dangerously low and causing harm to jobseekers. It’s time for Bill Shorten to come off the fence.”“It has been well established that it is dangerously low and causing harm to jobseekers. It’s time for Bill Shorten to come off the fence.”
For anyone wondering, I put the “rolled gold” count at 30 for that question time.For anyone wondering, I put the “rolled gold” count at 30 for that question time.
And with Nemo’s stamp of approval, question time ends.And with Nemo’s stamp of approval, question time ends.
Josh Frydenberg on his budget dixer “EVEN NEMO HAS GIVEN HIS APPROVAL TO THIS BUDGET”.
Probably. We all know I don’t really listen to dixers. #deathtodixers
Tony Burke attempts to table page 193 of the budget portfolio statement, which Ken Wyatt referenced in a previous answer, because it is the table of contents for digital health.
Which sounds EXACTLY how I would have failed the bibliography section of my assignments. Who knew Wyatt and I had so much in common?
Julie Collins to Ken Wyatt:
I refer to his previous answer. Can the minister confirm that funding for residential and home care has been combined into a single-line item in the budget? And given this single-line item does not show anything close to the increase of $1.6bn for aged care the government has claimed, isn’t the minister perpetuating a cruel hoax on older Australians?
Wyatt starts his answer the same way I used to fill out essay answers when I needed to meet a word limit, but I had no idea what to say.
I thank the member for her question. And I certainly do. It’s great to talk about the needs of older Australians. It’s important that we talk about the way in which governments provide services. And it’s important that we use the resources effectively to provide choice within the mix of the total budget that we allocate. And our allocation of budget goes to very critical programs.
Good to know. He moves on.
Now, in response to your question, we paid in residential care for beds occupied. We provide opportunities for home care packages that allow people to have choices to live at home. That, when you combine the efforts of this government, we are at least providing real choice that allows Australians to either live at home or make the choice to live in residential care. Now, in doing that, what I considered – and what we considered was the forward years in terms of the number of places required in both. That the number of residential beds required will continue to increase substantially. The number of home care packages will also increase in those out years.
Our commitment is to making sure that, across this nation, geographically and in capital cities, that we give absolute choices to people. And I want to identify resources that are best-placed to give people that choice of home care or residential care. And in our budget, we have given attention to the needs of people with high-need places, so that we give them the levels of support. And we continually wrap around other supports out of the programs that we have within the aged care portfolio. Because it makes no sense – yes, if you don’t understand the term “wrap around”, it just means that we provide, member for Lilley, services that help people who have a need. I can come and explain it to you very, very simply. Because you didn’t understand it when you were treasurer. Because, had you done that, we wouldn’t have the challenges for senior Australians we have now.
Julie Collins to Ken Wyatt:
My question is to the minister for aged care. Before the budget, Australians were told the government would axe the cut to the energy supplement, announce 20,000 new home care places, and invest billions more in aged care. Given none of this happened, hasn’t the minister perpetuated a cruel hoax on older Australians?
Wyatt:
I would suggest that the member, firstly, read the portfolio budget statement in respect of pages 193. That identifies ... over the forward years. It is a $bn investment. Now, when we consider – and let me go to another issue in this answer – a rolled-gold treasurer had responsibility for setting the budgets in home care packages under the Living Longer Living Better legislation. Had he looked at the Australian population pyramid, he would have made a different judgement in respect to the amount that was required. So, the member for Lilley needed to take that into consideration.
What we’ve done is we have invested in aged care to the tune of $5bn. We’ve increased the number of residential care beds. We’ve increased the number in the forward years of home care places. We are providing programs and services to regional Australia that has a better outcome for people living in the bush. Our budget figures are accurate. They are not zero.
I would suggest to the member for Franklin you read both my statement yesterday and the budget papers. Because we are making a serious commitment to senior Australians in this nation, across Commonwealth Home Programs, Home Care Packages and residential care, plus those supporting measures which give them the quality of life that they deserve, for the work that they have done for this nation.
To scaremonger, to fearmonger and create angst in senior Australians is not appropriate. I have people who have now said they are not going into aged care because of the politicking that is occurring. Start to consider the needs of those who have the pathway into support services.
But our budget measures are increasing. If you look at each year, we increase by approximately$1bn per year, and over the last four years we’ve increased the budget by $bn to make up for the deficit that was there when we came into government from a Labor government. There is a need for us to focus on their needs, and to ensure that they are given the opportunities.
We move on to Paul Fletcher for a dixer, but a moth just flew into the office and I got distracted.
Wait – he brings me back in with a mention of “Team Queensland”. According to emails that went out today, Peter Dutton is the leader of Team Queensland. I thought it was Cam Smith, but apparently that’s changed since I left.
Another dixer.
The budget is great guys. All hail the budget. #deathtodixers
Jim Chalmers to Malcolm Turnbull:
Why was the prime minister willing to separately legislate different stages of the government’s corporate tax cuts but is unwilling to do the same for tax cuts for low- and middle-income earners? Why is it always one rule for big business and another for low and middle income earners? Isn’t the prime minister the only person standing in the way of tax cuts for ordinary Australians from 1 July?
Turnbull punts it to Scott Morrison:
We’ve put the whole enterprise tax plan to this parliament. We put that in this House of Representatives and it was passed by this House. And we’ve done exactly the same thing here, Mr Speaker. And I say to the member – and if they give leave, we’ll be happy to debate this bill right now, Mr Speaker. Why don’t you give us leave and we’ll pass it now, the whole thing? Come on! Let’s have the debate. Let’s pass the bill! Shall I seek leave, Mr Speaker, to bring on that motion of business?
We’ll have that opportunity very shortly, if they so desire, Mr Speaker. We gave them that opportunity the other day, and the shadow treasurer scurried under the table there, Mr Speaker, like the little rat he is, Mr Speaker. He’s got under there ...
He is made to withdraw the rat comment, and does.
I would hate to offend the sensibilities of the member for McMahon [Chris Bowen], Mr Speaker. We know what a precious flower he is, Mr Speaker. We know what a petal he is. But, Mr Speaker, when it comes to this issue, I have a question for the Labor party, and I know the answer, so it’s rhetorical. They, Mr Speaker, do not want to act on bracket creep in this country.
That’s what they’re saying. They have been shifty all week on this, as shifty as the leader of the opposition. They’re hedging their bets, they’re saying, “We’ll support this. Maybe we’ll support that.” The Australian people just want a straight answer from the Labor party. Do you support lower taxes for all Australians? Simple question. Or are you just gonna – are you gonna be stuck in your rut of envy and bitterness and want to punish Australians, who are just working hard and seeking to get on, Mr Speaker?
The Labor Party, when it comes to tax, are rolled-gold failures. Absolute rolled-gold failures. And they’re led by a rolled-gold failure.
He delivers it in much the same way as I imagine Donald Trump yells at the television while watching Saturday Night Live.
Right, after a discussion in the office about what the convicts in chain gangs, as well as the Indigenous people and early immigrants, in particular the Chinese, would have thought about the statement that this country was “not built on envy and bitterness”, we get back to it.
Bill Shorten to Malcolm Turnbull:
Can the prime minister confirm that under his tax plan a nurse who earns $50,000 will have the same marginal tax rate as a lawyer who earns $200,000 a year? And how is that fair?
Turnbull:
I thank the honourable member for his question. Under the revised tax scales at the end of the seven-year plan, the 45c threshold comes in at $200,000, so the marginal tax rate there on is 45c in the dollar. Plus, of course, the Medicare levy. So, the 32.5c marginal rate goes from $41,000 to $200,000...”
[Can I direct members to] ... the Grattan report, which they’ve quoted earlier. And I just note that this states here, once fully implemented, “the personal income tax plan doesn’t change the progressivety of the tax system much. Overall, those on high incomes will pay a similar proportion of total tax revenues, with or without the plan.
Chris Bowen to Scott Morrison:
I refer to Grattan Institute modelling into the government’s personal income tax scheme released a short time ago. Can the treasurer confirm that $15bn of the annual $25bn cost of the government’s scheme will come from collecting less tax from the top 20% of income earners? Treasurer, how is this fair?
Morrison:
In 2015-16, those on the top tax bracket paid 30.3% of all personal income tax collected. And under the government’s plan, Treasury estimates those on the top tax bracket will pay around 36% of all personal income tax collected in 2024-25. As the prime minister was pointing out before, someone earning $205,000 will be earning five times more but paying 13 times more tax, 13 times more tax, Mr Speaker.
So, under this plan, under this plan, the progressivety of our tax system is well protected and well respected.
Mr Speaker, the problem with the Labor party is they don’t understand that this country was not built on envy and bitterness, and our tax system shouldn’t be built on envy and bitterness either. Those opposite, the Labor party, think that the only way that people on low and middle incomes can do better is if they make people on other incomes do worse. This is the flat-earth thinking that chokes economies, Mr Speaker, and that’s why the Labor party cannot be trusted to run what will be estimated, over the next four years, a $2tr economy.
I wouldn’t trust the leader of the opposition with $2, Mr Speaker. And yet he walks around here, thumping himself about on issues of rolled-gold guarantees. Well, he might think he’s the golden member of this parliament, Mr Speaker, but he’s a rolled-gold failure as a member of this parliament.
The Grattan Institute has released its modelling of the government’s $140bn, seven-year, personal income tax plan. What did it find? When fully implemented $15bn of the annual $25bn cost of the plan will result from collecting less tax from the top 20% of income earners #auspol pic.twitter.com/sIgjpsEqC7
Opposition leader Bill Shorten in the eye of the rolled gold storm during #qt @AmyRemeikis @GuardianAus @murpharoo #politicslive pic.twitter.com/Jt99W1F8jq
Tanya Plibersek to Malcolm Turnbull:
Is the prime minister aware that on Sky News today, the CEO of the Grattan Institute said the government’s income tax scheme includes “a small tax cut for low income earners and a very large tax cut for high income earners”? Can the prime minister detect a pattern here? Is this why the prime minister won’t give a straight answer on the cost of his policies?
Turnbull:
All of the details of the impact of the personal income tax cuts on different levels of income and different households are all set out in the budget papers and accompanying documents. And it is very, very clear that tax relief goes, in the first instance, to people on low and middle income, and subsequently it goes to the broad range of income earners other than those, of course, the only rate – the rate that is not affected is the 45% rate and the threshold is lifted to $200,000 in seven years’ time. What will the cost - the 10-year cost has been given already by the treasurer.
But the point is – the point is that their income tax system remains, in terms of the distribution of the burden, as it is today, where the largest share of the tax is paid by those on higher incomes. And I refer the honourable member to the answer I gave the member for Melbourne a moment ago.
Peter Dutton is up next for his daily dixer - YOU ARE ALL REALLY, REALLY SAFE.