Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Moore for her first question to me in this place in my capacity as the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women. In relation to the ending of the low-income superannuation contribution, abolishing contributions made under the low-income superannuation contribution on or after 1 July 2013 is consistent with the government's commitment to abolish the LISC whilst in opposition. We made a commitment in opposition; we have followed through with it in government—unlike those on the other side, who said one thing in opposition and then did a completely different thing in government.

But the important thing in relation to the low-income superannuation contribution is this: where was the funding for this contribution derived from? In fact, I think we have been debating that bill for some time today. It is called the mining tax—the mining tax which the former government stated would raise a certain amount of money, in the billions of dollars. They spent that money making commitments to Australians, some of them the most vulnerable in this country, knowing full well they would never, ever be able to meet those commitments.

You come into this place and you have the audacity to ask us why we are keeping a promise that we clearly made to the Australian people. The mining tax was a failed tax. The mining tax did not raise the money that you said it would raise. A fiscally responsible government is what we are. We told the people of Australia prior to the election exactly what we would be doing. The Australian people cast their vote—