Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

The answers to coalition questions from the government today demonstrated that Australians cannot believe a thing that this government says. Young Australians cannot believe this government when they say this is about equity, because this budget goes after investment and savings across the board. It doesn't deliver anything for younger Australians. It won't make houses cheaper. Saving for a deposit on a home will take longer and will be taxed more. That's what this budget does. It will make it harder for a young Australian to save for and invest in a home. It is killing investment in innovation and it proves conclusively that no-one can believe what this government says.

Remember: they promised before the 2022 election that they would reduce electricity prices by $275. They promised that the cost of living would be lower. They promised a better cost of living. They promised that there would be no changes to superannuation. They broke that promise. They promised cheaper health care, and yet in this budget people over 65 charged up to an extra $1,600 for their health insurance. Forty per cent of admissions to public hospitals are people over 65, accounting for 50 per cent of bed nights, and, of the three million people over 65 in this country, about 1.0 to 1.2 million people are full pensioners who will be charged that extra slug. So much for cheaper healthcare for those pensioners who are going to be charged more.

They of course promised no change to negative gearing. They promised no change to capital gains tax and they promised no new taxes on trusts. It's a pretty comprehensive list, and they've broken every single one of those promises. So, when they stand up in question time and try to run a justification for it, why should anybody believe them? Why should we believe a thing this government says given the trail of broken promises they have left behind them over four years in government? You cannot trust a single promise this government makes.

Last night, Labor delivered a budget of deceit, and young Australians cannot believe this government when they say it's about equity, because it's about raising an extra $77 billion in tax.

Question agreed to.