Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

As is well known, Mr Abbott has made a number of public statements about lowering taxes and no new taxes. I leave it to senators and those listening to draw their own conclusions about a leader who proclaims that he will lower taxes, abolish taxes, bring in no new taxes and not increase taxes and then announces a big new tax of $2.7 billion. I would suggest that it is somewhat hypocritical to suggest that you are not going to increase taxes and that there will be no new taxes and then to announce a new one three months into your job as Leader of the Opposition. But what is worse is that at a time of economic recovery, when Australian businesses are doing comparatively very well, in comes the new Leader of the Opposition with a new tax—a $2.7 billion new tax.