Brendan Nelson (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Treasurer. Treasurer, why would any responsible economic manager put new taxes on vehicles that are used extensively by farmers and tourism operators already struggling in a declining economy?

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

We are not doing that; that is the point. What we are doing is increasing taxation on Porsches—very expensive luxury cars. That is what we are doing, and you have no—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order! The Treasurer will resume his seat. The Leader of the Opposition has asked a question. It would be helpful if the House were silent so that we could listen to the response.

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

The opposition want lower taxes for people who purchase luxury vehicles; it is that simple—lower taxes for people who purchase luxury vehicles. All of this today is about covering up their embarrassment, because what they are now doing is trying to blow a $6 billion hole in the surplus, which means that what they are saying to the Australian people is they do not stand for working families who want lower interest rates. It is very clear who they are siding with in this debate. They are siding with big oil, they are siding with people who are purchasing luxury vehicles and they are siding against people on average incomes who are slugged with a very high levy when it comes to the Medicare surcharge. That is what they are doing. They are acutely embarrassed about it, and all of their tactics in question time today have been about camouflaging that fact.