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

That assertion is false, false, false. This government is actually spending less than Labor was going to spend. Expenditure growth under this government is lower than it was anticipated to be under the previous government. I assume that what Senator Dastyari is referring to, given the communist sort of approach to taxation that people like Senator Doug Cameron previously advocated on the scrutiny of new taxes committee, is that our tax cuts in the May budget are somehow expenditure. Tax cuts are not expenditure. Tax cuts enable businesses to keep more of their own money. Tax cuts to small business enable business to invest in their future success. Tax cuts to small business enable small business to be more successful and, of course, to employ more Australians. It is unashamedly a part of our long-term plan for stronger growth and more jobs. You are the high-taxing party. We are the low-taxing party. (Time expired)