Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the Prime Minister for the opportunity to respond. The question actually relates to the different positions, apparently. But let me talk about the different positions on that side of the House because, 12 months ago, Jon Faine asked the Leader of the Opposition: 'Yes or no? Would you, in some way, wind back negative gearing?' And the Leader of the Opposition said, 'That policy is not on our radar.' Then, nine months ago, when asked the same question, he said, 'Negative gearing changes are not the focus of the Labor Party.' He said, again, nine months ago, 'We have said all matters need to be on the table for discussion, but it is not our focus or on our radar to scrap negative gearing.' Now that is fair enough. That is what he said nine months or 12 months ago, and that, apparently, was the position of the opposition on negative gearing. So, funnily enough, just 2½ weeks ago, when the member for McMahon was asked about negative gearing, he said—and this was after they had announced their catastrophic, market-destroying changes—'We've been working on our policy for 18 months!' He forgot to tell the Leader of the Opposition. They are the 'Bib and Bob' of basket cases when it comes to policies on negative gearing. What those opposite do not understand on negative gearing is that mums and dads are investing in property for their own future. One of the things that those mums and dads are doing is that they are investing—

Ms Plibersek interjecting—

Ms Macklin interjecting—

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