Catryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Once again we have seen a question time where the government absolutely failed to give accurate answers to the opposition's very reasonable questions, especially questions on the GST. There were three quite clear questions to Senator Cormann: did he stand by his commitment that, from 2013, the GST would not change if elected to government on 7 September; did he stand by his commitment that, under the coalition, there would be no cuts to hospitals, schools, defence or pensions and no increase in the GST; and was Mr Pyne correct when he told a group of coalition MPs yesterday that the Turnbull government will not be taking an increase to the GST to the next election? Of course, in all the answers we got, we just got obfuscation. We could not get a clear answer. We saw the minister dodge and hedge, absolutely determined not to give a clear answer, not only to this chamber but to the Australian people. It is clear that this government is planning to attempt to increase the GST. If I had any doubts, Senator Lindgren's contribution just before probably took away those doubts. It is pretty clear from what she said that the GST will be broadened. In fact, if I were a betting woman, I would probably put some money on it, judging by those comments.