Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) | Hansard source

Thank you for that assistance, Mr Speaker. They stood up last weekend and they did a press conference. Having said that they would oppose and fight our tax cuts, they said they would roll them back absolutely—remember the words of the deputy leader? They then stood up and said: 'Well, no. Actually, we're opposed to it, but we're going to vote for it.' Then they said, 'But we're going to have our own tax plan,' and I thought, 'Beauty! Here we go! They're going to come up with a policy.' What was it? Nothing. Crickets. There was no alternative plan. They have an opportunity, of course, in the consideration in detail on this legislation to put forward some alternatives, and we'll wait and see what comes out of that. They have never had an idea to help Middle Australia. They are just concerned with, and their idea of aspiration is, people like themselves. It's people who have been pretty successful in life. That's their idea of aspiration.

What we on this side of the House understand is that every Australian aspires to a better future for themselves and their children. We will put in place measures that help them to achieve that better future for themselves and their children. That's what these tax cuts are about. Peter Dutton, as Leader of the Opposition, and those opposite just want people to work longer for less. That's the great divide in Australian politics. We want people to earn more and keep more of what they earn. They want people to work longer for less.

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