Julie-Ann Campbell (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

It doesn't matter how the opposition tries to spin this one; nothing will change the fact that those in the coalition have just voted against a tax cut for working Australians, again. Nothing will change the fact that the coalition have just voted against 75,000 Australians getting into their very first home. Nothing will change the fact that the coalition have just voted against a $1,000 instant tax write off. All in all, what this now means is that the coalition have made average working Australians $2,800 poorer.

At a time when people are doing it tough, at a time when people are struggling to pay their bills, at a time when young people are trying to get into their first home, at a time when this country has a big challenge when it comes to cost of living, the opposition have today anointed themselves as the enemy of first home buyers. The opposition today have anointed themselves as the nemesis of young people across this nation. Today was a test for those in the coalition. I don't rejoice in their spectacular failure of that test, because we want Australians to get a better life and to have a home.

Leon Rebello (McPherson, Liberal National Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Today Labor had a simple choice. They could have voted for the coalition's amendment to give working Australians bigger and better tax cuts through our tax back guarantee. Instead, they voted to keep their inflation tax. So the question is very simple: Why? Why did Labor vote against stopping bracket creep? Why did Labor vote against automatic tax cuts that get bigger every year? Why did Labor vote against a plan that means, when prices go up, tax thresholds go up too? Under Labor prices rise, wages try to catch up, and then the tax office quietly takes more and more of your hard earned money. It's very neat, very sneaky, very Labor.

For a typical worker, the coalition's plan means around $250 back in year 1, $500 back in year 2, $750 back in year 3, and in year 4 it's $1,000. Labor's offer in year 4 is still $250. The Prime Minister ruled his toxic taxes out 50 times. Now Australians are facing $280 billion in higher taxes. So why did Labor vote against our amendment? Because Labor cannot manage money, and now they're coming after yours. The coalition will axe Labor's toxic taxes and deliver bigger, better tax cuts for Australians who are doing the right thing and trying to get ahead.