Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is addressed to the Treasurer, and I refer him to his remark earlier in question time that the policy decisions in his budget had been to reduce taxation. Would the Treasurer explain to the House why, then, Budget Paper No. 1 states:

Policy decisions ... are expected to increase taxation revenue by $2.4 billion in 2008-09 and $19.7 billion over the forward years.

Isn’t it the case that the only tax cuts referred to in the budget were the policy of the previous government?

Wayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The facts are very simple. Tax as a percentage of GDP in the budget is 23.8 per cent, down from 24.7 per cent. You can selectively quote any figure you like but you cannot escape from that one fact. While we are on it, the opposition are in here saying that they do not agree with tax increases anywhere. What about your proposal to abolish what we are going to do about the Medicare levy surcharge, imposing another tax on Australians? They are all hypocrites; they are all over the place; they do not have a standard position on anything.

Bruce Billson (Dunkley, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Broadband, Communication and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order.

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

It is predictable if the member is seeking a withdrawal because he is offended.

Bruce Billson (Dunkley, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Broadband, Communication and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We know one another very well, Mr Speaker.

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

To assist, I would ask the Treasurer to withdraw.

Wayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw, Mr Speaker.