House debates Questions without Notice
Goods and Services Tax
Bill Shorten Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
2:15 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. Given the rare opportunity the government has right now, with the states being offered more revenue by extending the GST to Netflix and downloads, I again ask: will the Prime Minister agree with his Treasurer and remove the GST on tampons and other women's sanitary products?
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection
How can you play politics with this issue? Seriously!
Opposition members interjecting—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
There will be silence on my left. I hear male laughter; I do not hear too much female laughter. I call the Prime Minister.
Ed Husic Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Treasurer
Talk about the gift that keeps on giving—Peter Dutton!
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The member for Chifley can give a little too—perhaps he might give right outside the chamber.
Ed Husic Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Treasurer
Right now?
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
Maybe, if he asks again. The Prime Minister has the call.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
This matter was extensively dealt with in the chamber and elsewhere yesterday. As the Leader of the Opposition is well aware, the GST is a tax which is raised for the states and territories and it cannot be changed without the consent of all the states and territories. All the states and territories need to unanimously request any change in the GST. As the Treasurer indicated yesterday, he is happy to see the states and territories talk amongst themselves and decide whether they all agree on this. If they all agree on this, obviously we would be happy to be accommodating. There is nothing remarkable about this. As the member for Perth said earlier today, 'I don't think that this is a world beating issue, but at the end of the day it is up to the states—I mean, I agree, that if the states decide that they would prefer to forgo the revenue, then let it be'. I could hardly put it better myself. I commend the member for Perth, who seems a little embarrassed to be quoted in the parliament right now; nevertheless, she was the voice of common sense.
Alannah Mactiernan Perth, Australian Labor Party
I was making the point that we have bigger GST issues in Perth.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The member for Perth will desist or leave. The choice is hers.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
If the states wish to forgo the revenue that would be involved in narrowing the GST base in this way, fair enough—let them do it.