Josh Frydenberg (Kooyong, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

the details of more than 10,000 businesses. This is what the tax commissioner has said about Labor's proposal: It will 'harm the public interest by undermining public confidence in his ability to keep taxation information confidential.' This is what the Australian Hotels Association has said of Labor's proposal: 'It's a dangerous political stunt.' Here is what the Australian Industry Group has said of Labor's proposal: 'It's misguided and a dangerous precedent that must be rejected.' Here is what the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has said about Labor's proposal: 'It's a deliberate attempt to smear.' This is what the council of small business has said about Labor's proposal: 'It's been pursued for political gain.'

At the last election, Australians knew that the Labor Party came after retirees and homeowners. Well, this election, they're coming after small business. This election, they're coming after small business, and, if the Labor Party is prepared to stoop this low to force the tax commissioner to reveal private taxpayers' confidential information, whose information will they seek to have provided next to the parliament? These businesses were complying with the law. These businesses were receiving government support in the middle of a once-in-a-century pandemic. And, for that, the Labor Party is coming after them.

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