Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Can the Albanese government rule out any new or increased taxes on Australian taxpayers or businesses in this term of parliament?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable senator, the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, for the first question in this place of the 48th Parliament. I'm very pleased to receive it. What I would observe is that it does demonstrate that the coalition haven't listened and haven't learnt—they haven't listened to the message of the Australian people and haven't learnt from the message that was sent to them at the last election that the negativity, scare campaigns and obstruction from those opposite didn't get a great response in the Australian community. I would have hoped—

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, a point of order in relation to relevance. It's very obvious: the answer to the question is you're not going to rule it out and there are going to be more taxes. I would ask you to draw the minister to the question.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash, I remind the Senate—we all might be a bit rusty. I accept your point of order, but there's no need to go into what was a response. I believe Senator Wong was getting to the point, but I will remind her again of the question.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash, you would know that our economic plan—and I would say it is a very early point to take an interjection.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At 40 seconds.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, I know you're very keen to have a fight; we're very keen to govern. We're very keen to pass legislation that matters to the Australian people. You can keep wanting to have a fight; we're going to deliver the agenda we were elected to deliver. Our economic plan is about Australians earning more and keeping more of what they earn. That is what our economic plan is about.

Of course, there are those who are open to tax changes, including capital gains tax. I was interested to read the member for Groom's comments today. I think there are some real issues we need to address. I am open to a discussion on CGT—

I'm surprised you are interrupting me, Senator Cash.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong, please resume your seat. Senator Cash?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For the second time today in relation to the first question of the 48th Parliament, I hope this is not going to be how Senator Wong treats us. It is a point of order on relevance. The senator is not being relevant.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Cash. Minister Wong is being relevant to the question, and I will ask her to continue.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Talking about capital gains tax, which Senator Cash used to be very interested in—I am also observing the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate's approach for the 48th Parliament appears to be to give lectures during points of order, but, obviously, it is a matter for you, President, how much leniency you will show to that.

I make the point that there are those in this place who are open to a discussion on capital gains tax, and certainly Mr Hamilton, the member for Groom, is one of them. I do wonder if you have raised your concerns with him. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash, first supplementary?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Will the Albanese government confirm that there will be no changes to negative gearing arrangements during this term of parliament?

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Those on my right! Senator Wong, I have called you to answer the question. I think we've got order now, so you can go to the first supplementary.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Those of us on this side are wondering if they have updated their question time packs since the last term, because I think I had many of these questions, almost precisely in the same form, in the last parliament. As I said—haven't learnt, haven't listened, same old opposition, same old Liberal Party. We haven't changed our tax policy. As you know, we do have a housing policy. It is very detailed. It includes both demand and supply measures, and it doesn't include those measures, but I am interested in the conversation that the member for Groom appears to have started.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I am waiting particularly for senators on my right. Senator Cash, second supplementary?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Will the minister confirm that Western Australia will continue to receive a guaranteed level of no less than 75c in the dollar for GST funding, and there will be no changes to this arrangement?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think we have made our position on Western Australian GST very clear. During the election, the Prime Minister said so in Western Australia many times. I would note, Senator, that you might recall the former Leader of the Opposition was the person who was questioning those tax arrangements.