Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

Yesterday, I was fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of an interview by David Speers on Sky with the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Senator Wong. David Speers asked Senator Wong this question: 'Remind me again: why didn't Labor put out the Henry tax review when you got it?' This is what Senator Wong had to say: 'I think we put it out—was it three or four months later? I can't recall.'

Let me assist Senator Wong. The government that she was a part of received the Henry tax review on 23 December 2009 and released it on 2 May 2010. That was a week or so before the budget. To be very specific, that was four months and 11 days later. Mr Speers then asked the obvious question: 'So why did you sit on it that long?' This is what Senator Wong had to say yesterday: 'Probably because we were considering it.' Guess what? We are considering the Commission of Audit report as we are putting the budget together! (Time expired)