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

Clearly, like Senator Wong, the good senator lacks the agility to adjust the supplementary question in light of the answer to the primary question. As I have already said, I completely reject the premise of the question. The government does not have in front of it a proposal to increase the GST. We are currently considering how we can strengthen growth and create more jobs by making sure that our tax system is more growth friendly.

Senator Wong interjecting—

Senator Wong says she left it open. That is right. On this side of the parliament we have an open mind. The government has an open mind to look at all of the options to improve our tax system, to look at all the options for how our tax system can be made more growth friendly, how it can raise the necessary revenue for government in a better, more efficient and less distorting way. It is no secret—Senator Wong thinks this is a revelation—we are engaged in a consultation process about how the tax system can be improved. (Time expired)