David Leyonhjelm (NSW, Liberal Democratic Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senators Day and Wang, move:

That the Senate accepts the desirability and merit as a general budgetary principle of lowering taxes irrespective of whether the budget is or is not in surplus.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) | Link to this | Hansard source

While lower taxes are desirable, the faster we can get to the point where as a nation we live within our means and reach our target of a budget surplus, the more capacity we will have to incentivise people through tax cuts.

Stephen Parry (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the motion standing in the name of Senators Leyonhjelm, Day and Wang, be agreed to.