Bill Shorten Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
2:41 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. On 20 November 2012 the Prime Minister promised Australians:
We are about reducing taxes, not increasing taxes. We are about getting rid of taxes, not imposing new taxes.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Government Members:
Government members interjecting—
Bill Shorten Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
So why do his own budget papers on page 17 show that the government is taking $2.2 billion from Australians by taxing them more every time they fill up their family car?
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
2:42 pm
The tax in question is a Labor tax, which the Leader of the Opposition should remember.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
For the benefit of members opposite, who I think must have had a bad night at the ball because they are absolutely hysterical today, let me make two points. We are eliminating taxes. We are scrapping the carbon tax, we are scrapping the mining tax, and if members opposite would like us to keep that promise they can pass the legislation. We are reducing the tax burden. The overall tax burden reduces by $5 billion as a result of decisions taken by this government. So I am really pleased that the Leader of the Opposition has reminded people of what I said in 2012, because we have absolutely delivered on those commitments.