Bert Van Manen (Forde, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

1. recognises:

a. the positive effect of the Government's measures to assist more hard working Australians to earn more through the tax system, in particular by introducing to Parliament legislation to provide tax relief that encourages and rewards working Australians; and

b. the Government's measures to deliver a stronger economy through tax relief for businesses so that they have the opportunity to invest more, hire more people and pay higher wages; and

2. notes with deep concern that the Opposition:

a. sought to reverse $70 billion in tax relief for working Australians;

b. refuses to rule out reversing the tax relief already legislated for small and medium businesses with up to $50 million turnover; and

c. plans to tax Australians and the economy with more than $290 billion of higher taxes.

I'm very pleased to rise in this chamber today to speak about the government's tax relief package which passed parliament last week. This income tax package and the relief that it provides will better support hardworking and aspirational Australian families. Going forward, Australians will now be paying less tax and their efforts for working hard and getting ahead will be better rewarded now and into the future as we take less from their pockets each week.

I've assured my constituents that, while this budget includes tax relief measures so working Australians can keep more of their hard-earned money in their pockets, importantly, this tax relief is budgeted for and costed. In my electorate of Forde in South-East Queensland, which has a diverse range of small businesses, service industries and hardworking families, some 74,000 taxpayers will stand to benefit from the low- and middle-income tax relief in the upcoming 2018-19 financial year. This government's tax relief plan is about encouraging and rewarding working Australians by making income tax lower, fairer and simpler.

Whilst we see those opposite continually call it a cash handout, most people, including many in my electorate of Forde, are looking beyond those political games and seeing it for what it is—a measure to ensure working Australians keep more of their hard-earned income. Why should anyone be punished for taking on extra shifts, earning overtime or being promoted? Why should the end result of that push them into a higher tax bracket? We don't want to see people lose more of their hard-earned income if they aspire to work harder and build their wealth for their families.

Some of those opposite can't seem to comprehend what aspiration even means, but to the rest of the country these measures make sense. It will put to an end bracket creep so that working Australians keep more of their money to help pay their bills and save for their future—and, importantly, many people will spend these extra funds in our local communities. The coalition's tax plan is affordable and it will provide tax relief to lower and middle-income earners, and over time will provide a simpler and fairer tax system for all taxpayers. Why is this important? It's important because we need a system that keeps taxes under control so that we remain internationally competitive. We don't want a system that puts a greater burden on hardworking Australians. The more the tax burden hurts individuals and businesses, the more it hurts our economy and job creation opportunities.

On that note, I would like to commend the government for the efforts we've made to help small businesses reach their aspirations to grow and expand beyond being just small-to-medium businesses, through the tax cuts that we have provided. Small-to-medium business tax cuts are benefitting three million businesses that employ over half of all working Australians. In my electorate of Forde, these tax cuts are helping some 15,500 local businesses. Sadly, we have seen the spectre today of what those opposite will do to many of those medium-size businesses in my electorate by reversing the tax cuts this government has instituted. They seem to forget that small-to-medium business is a major employer in this country and generates the wealth necessary to employ people. It's through the generation of that wealth and employing people that those individuals can build wealth and a future for their families. But it's typical of those opposite. It's just an agenda of ever higher taxes. I think the count is over $300 billion in higher taxes after today's announcement.

The damage that those opposite would do if they had the opportunity in the Treasury benches again is not worth considering. The opportunities for Australians to build wealth, to grow their businesses and invest and aspire for the future rest with the coalition government, and that is why we'll be taking the tax measures that were announced and passed last week.

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