Senate debates Motions

Taxation


Nick Xenophon

Nick Xenophon SA, Independent

12:38 pm

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) statistics from Tourism Research Australia show that backpackers spent approximately $3.4 billion in Australia for the year ending December 2015,

  (ii) backpackers play a vital role in the Australian economy and perform important work in rural and regional areas,

  (iii) while the Government has given a temporary reprieve on the backpacker tax, there is still a threat that it will be implemented in its current form,

  (iv) rural and regional communities across Australia will be damaged if the Government does not rule out implementing the backpacker tax in its current form, and

  (v) the Queensland Liberal National Party recently passed a motion against the Government's planned backpacker tax at its state convention; and

(b) calls on the Government to immediately announce that it will not proceed with the implementation of the backpacker tax in its current form.

James McGrath

James McGrath Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Leave not granted.

Ian Macdonald

Ian Macdonald Queensland, Liberal Party

I seek leave to make a one-minute statement.

Leave not granted.

Question agreed to.