Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to the $2.5 billion tax grab from gas field condensate announced in the budget. What consultation did the government undertake with business prior to this decision? Can the Prime Minister guarantee that this additional $2.5 billion tax will not drive up the price of domestic gas for households and businesses in Western Australia?

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government maintains a close working relationship with the mining sector and the resources sector in Australia. We have done so in the past; we will continue to do so in the future. Secondly, on the question of tax, those opposite have a clear set of priorities here. That is, when it comes to the taxation arrangements for condensate, taxation arrangements for luxury cars, taxation arrangements across the board, it seems that those opposite do not have their priorities right, and they need to get their priorities in order.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Has the Prime Minister concluded?

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.