Page 4109 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 18 November 2015
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(t) that the cost of living statement in the 2015-2016 Budget showed that ACT per capita taxation is below the national average;
(u) that there is currently broad and sustained support around Australia, including from key stakeholders such as business, industry and social sector organisations, about the need for wide-ranging taxation reform in this country;
It might have escaped the shadow treasurer’s notice that the Prime Minister and the Treasurer have announced a very big table for tax reform and that everything is on this very big table.
Mr Smyth: Yes, as it should be.
MR BARR: Except for the reforms that are being implemented here. The amendment continues:
(v) there has been long-standing advocacy for taxation reform—
from a range of expert reviews, internationally, nationally and locally, including in the past five years by the former Treasury secretary, Ken Henry, and an ACT review led by former ACT Treasurer, Ted Quinlan. But here we get to the real crux of what this morning is about. In not quite 15 minutes we heard, and this is in the amendment:
(w) that the Canberra Liberals continue to shirk engaging in a meaningful debate about taxation reform;
and there is not one alternative policy suggestion put forward, not one—
(x) that the Canberra Liberals’ focus on three-word slogans about tax reform is misleading the community about the impact of taxation reform;
Despite being the longest serving shadow treasurer in the history of the commonwealth, Mr Smyth has never put forward a meaningful and comprehensive program of taxation reform. The amendment continues:
(y) that in this term the Canberra Liberals’ have yet to issue a meaningful and comprehensive program of taxation reform;
(z) that in this term the Canberra Liberals’ have yet to issue a policy about cost of living; and
(aa) that in this term the Canberra Liberals’ have yet to issue a policy about housing affordability;
They are long on rhetoric, long on criticism, but there is nothing by way of an alternative policy.
My amendment calls on the government to:
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