Senate debates

Tuesday, 16 October 2018

4:24 pm

Photo of Richard Di NataleRichard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) | | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) a company with a turnover of $50 million a year is not a small business,

  (ii) corporate profits hit a record $335 billion, up 10 per cent in a year, while wages are at all time lows of 2 per cent, and

  (iii) spending $3 billion on more company tax cuts will not reduce economic inequality and low wage growth; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to instead reinvest that money into lifting Newstart for the first time since 1994, when it was lifted by just $2 a week.

Photo of Anne RustonAnne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) | | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) | | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Photo of Anne RustonAnne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) | | Hansard source

The coalition government fast-tracked laws that will bring in tax cuts five years earlier than planned for more than three million businesses that employ nearly seven million Australians. This will mean more investment, more jobs and higher wages. The coalition government's fast-tracked laws will bring in tax cuts five years earlier.

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) | | Hansard source

The question is that motion No. 1119 be agreed to.