The Leader of the Federal Opposition Tony Abbott gave his Budget Reply speech in the House of Reps on Thur 16.5.2013.
- He confirmed that a Coalition Government if elected would abolish the carbon tax and the mining tax.
Mr Abbott said a Coalition Government would:
- keep the current income tax thresholds and the current pension and benefit fortnightly rates. He outlined specific savings to cover keeping tax thresholds and pension rates without a carbon tax to fund them.
He said a Coalition Government would:
- not continue the low income superannuation contribution;
- delay by 2 years the gradual increase in compulsory superannuation;
- abolish the Government’s green loans scheme;
- reduce by at least 12,000, through natural attrition, the size of the Commonwealth public sector.
- Mr Abbott said these measures would produce nearly $5bn a year in savings.
- Mr Abbott said that, within 2 years, an incoming Coalition Government would consult with the community to produce a comprehensive white paper on tax reform and would then take proposals for further tax reform to the following election.
- Mr Abbott said the Coalition may decide not to oppose any of the “savings” measures in the Budget eg abolition of the Baby Bonus, forcing businesses to do tax paperwork monthly, etc, “doesn’t commit to reverse any of them; and reserves the option to implement all of them, in government.”
[LTN 94, 17/5/13]