Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister said 'for the fiftieth time' that he would not impose new taxes on Australian homes and savings. All major newspapers report that the Prime Minister is about to do the exact opposite. Why should Australians ever trust another commitment this Labor government makes?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Our budget tonight will build on everything that Australia is doing to shield Australia from the worst of the global fuel crisis but also to ensure that we come out the other side with a stronger, fairer and more resilient economy. Our budget will be true to Labor values and Australian values—fairness and aspiration as we go forward.

The Leader of the Opposition raises the issue of housing taxes. Of course, there was a committee report commissioned by the Greens, the Liberals and the Nationals in the Senate, who asked for there to be a full public inquiry into capital gains taxation. That is something that was initiated by those opposite and something that we voted against. Indeed, so many of those opposite have said, including the member for Canning—I'm asked about quotes—who said:

… if that includes negative gearing then we should make changes.

That was the member for Canning. The shadow treasurer said:

… it's time to be honest: the tax system is screwing over young Australians.

Screwing over!

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The manager on a point of order?

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Standing order 104 says this:

An answer must be directly relevant to the question.

The question was, just to remind you: why should Australians—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Resume your seat.

Honourable members interjecting—

Order, I'll just deal with this—

I'll hear from the Leader of the Nationals in the House of Representatives.

Darren Chester (Gippsland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Point of order—have I got the call?

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I just said—

Darren Chester (Gippsland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, the Prime Minister is just standing there. I'm just not sure if I've got the call.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What's your point of order?

Darren Chester (Gippsland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As the Manager of Opposition Business was making his point of order, his microphone was turned off before you called to order—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yeah, I did.

Darren Chester (Gippsland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

and the Prime Minister had already stood to—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Resume your seat. I did, and I have the power to do that as the House has given me that power. I have been crystal clear about taking points of order. That is not the time to then restate the question. It's not the time to restate the question. You raise the point of order on relevance, which the manager did. That's not an opportunity to have a second go or a third go. We're getting into those bad habits, and I'm starting—you've raised your point of order. The question was about whether Australians should ever trust another commitment of government. I think everyone could agree that's a pretty broad question, so you're going to get a broad answer.

I haven't finished, but I'll listen out of respect.

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Further to the point of order, it says 'that Labor governments make', not what the opposition is doing. It's what Labor government makes. And that's the point I was trying to point out to the Prime Minister.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the manager. The relevance here is that it is a broad question that you've asked about policy. If we're going to just have broad questions about trust and policy announcements, you're going to get a broad answer. If it were about a fact or a figure or a yes or a no, sure. The Prime Minister will continue.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks very much, Mr Speaker. The shadow treasurer had this to say:

… it's time to be honest: the tax system is screwing over young Australians. Instead, it favours well-off, established interests against those trying to get ahead. … In short: if you work hard to get ahead, you get hit hard; if you live off assets, you don't.

But it's not just ancient history. The member for Groom said this:

I think there are some real issues we need to address. I'm open to a discussion on CGT …

The former member for Menzies said this:

Housing supply matters most—

Opposition members interjecting—

Listen to the former member for Menzies, because he's not here anymore. He's not here anymore, so he can't speak for himself, but I can speak on his behalf. He said this:

Housing supply matters most, but supply alone will not solve the problem.

…   …   …

Current tax settings tilt incentives toward investors, particularly in existing stock. They reward bidding rather than building.

…   …   …

The Liberal Party should lead with this: cap negative gearing for established dwellings at one property per investor, while allowing the deduction for up to five newly constructed homes.

Those opposite had a committee to look at these issues. Australians will see a budget tonight that acts in their interests. (Time expired)