Craig Kelly (Hughes, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

The first clause of this motion, moved by the member for Lyne, states that this House recognises the need for comprehensive tax reform to maximise the standard of living for Australia for the next 50 years. When considering tax reform to maximise the standard of living for Australia, there are a few basic principles that we should keep in mind. Firstly, in today's international marketplace and globally connected world, any tax reform must enhance Australia's international competitiveness, or at the very least avoid burdening Australian companies with taxes that will place them at a competitive disadvantage against their foreign competitors. Secondly, it must encourage investment in Australia. Thirdly, it must be characterised by stability and predictability, and it must reduce red tape. Fourthly, any reform should avoid taxes that eat away at our standard of living. Yet the member who moved this motion is the very same member who held hands with this government to inflict the carbon tax upon our nation and introduced reforms that do the exact opposite of what is needed to maximise the standard of living for all Australians. As the Productivity Commission pointed out, no other nation in the world is engaging in so-called tax reform by imposing—

Debate interrupted.

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