E&OE....................................................
PRIME MINISTER:
It was very clear from Mr Evans' interview this morning that
we are setting up for a rerun of 1993 when the Labor Party had no
stomach for tax reform, campaigned against our reform package and
when it scrambled back into office it introduced a GST of its own
which was a massive increase in wholesale sales tax without compensation
for lower income earners.
Mr Evans and Mr Beazley are adopting the negative frightened approach
to reforming Australia's taxation system. They have no stomach
for tax reform, and Gareth Evans gave the game away this morning
when he admitted some wholesale sales taxes could rise under a Labor
Government, and that is exactly what happened in 1993.
Australia badly needs a new tax system. The present one is unfair,
it's broken, it's ailing and it needs to be renovated,
and only the Coalition has the stomach to do that. Labor clearly
does not.
JOURNALIST:
Is that all you are expecting of Labor, a negative campaign?
PRIME MINISTER:
I think the Labor Party will run a negative, backward-looking, frightened
campaign. They will try and frighten people. They will pretend that
you can tinker with Bandaid solutions to a system that is badly
ailing and in need of fundamental renovation. They don't have
any stomach for reform. For the good of Australia, we need a better
taxation system. And that is why the Coalition will pursue it.
JOURNALIST:
When will you be releasing the policy?
PRIME MINISTER:
We will be releasing it quite soon. The work is very well advanced.
But there are a few more details to be completed. We're pursuing
tax reform because we think it's good for Australia. We are
pursuing tax reform because the present system is ailing and unfair,
and we're pursuing taxation reform because it will make a more
competitive Australia. It is for the good of Australia and for no
other reason we are pursuing taxation reform.
JOURNALIST:
Is it going to be for the good of low income earners?
PRIME MINISTER:
Low income earners will benefit from this package. Low income earners
were kicked around by Labor's 1993 tax changes when they introduced
a GST of their own without any compensation.
JOURNALIST:
(Inaudible)
PRIME MINISTER:
I assure you that when the package comes out there will be adequate
protection for low income earners. We will not introduce a tax package
that unfairly hurts low income earners.
JOURNALIST:
When you say soon, does that mean this month, Mr Howard?
PRIME MINISTER:
It will be brought down quite soon, I am not going to be tied down
to weeks or months. I have been saying that now in answer to those
questions before and there is no variation on that.
JOURNALIST:
Will wealth taxes form part of the package?
PRIME MINISTER:
I'm not going to speculate on individual things about it certainly
not in that direction.
JOURNALIST:
Senator Colston says that he has no major concerns with the Wik
legislation. Does that make you confident that the bill will be
passed?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well I hope the Bill will pass. For the good of Australia, I hope
the Senate passes this Bill. Australians want this issue resolved.
Australians want the Wik issue off the political agenda, and I hope
all members of the Senate keep that in mind when they vote, including
members of the Labor Party, who have played a very negative, divisive
game on this. If they are listening to Australians, they themselves
will support the agreement that I have reached with Senator Harradine.
JOURNALIST:
Mr Howard how did (inaudible)
PRIME MINISTER:
I beg your pardon?
JOURNALIST:
He does have some concerns for the Telstra Bill. Will you be having
discussions with him about that?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well the arrangement with Senator Colston is that if he wants any
information on any of our legislation like any other Senator, he
talks to the relevant Minister, who is Senator Alston.
JOURNALIST:
On the issue of Wik, have you spoken to Mr Colston at all?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, I don't have anything to add to what has already been
said. But normally it would be Senator Minchin who handles the legislation
in the Senate, who would speak to Senators about it. I negotiated
with Senator Harradine because of the special circumstances.
JOURNALIST:
... do you have any idea about what his concerns are?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well he has spoken today. I think you should speak to him. I don't
presume to speak for an independent Senator. That is a matter for
him.
JOURNALIST:
He has concerns for Telstra workers. Will you have discussions with
him about that?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well he would normally talk to Senator Alston about that, not me.
Senator Alston is handling that matter with great skill and great
flair and I have every confidence in Senator Alston.
JOURNALIST:
Mr Howard, if Senator Colston does vote with Labor, though doesn't
it force a double dissolution?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, I think you are dealing in a hypothetical situation. Just
let the matter unfold. He is entitled to have a look at the legislation.
He has made some comments. I am not going to put words into his
mouth. He can speak for himself. I am not going to try and speak
for him.
JOURNALIST:
But you are confident at the moment?
PRIME MINISTER:
I am simply repeating what I have said before. It is a matter for
him to decide how he votes, not for me.
JOURNALIST:
You had very close relations with Senator Harradine. Are you going
to take up the matter with Senator Colston?
PRIME MINISTER:
I think those questions have reached their use by date.
JOURNALIST:
Are you happy to take Senator Harradine's vote?
PRIME MINISTER:
Senator Harradine's vote? Certainly.
JOURNALIST:
Senator Colston has said that he has no major problems with the
Wik Bill.
PRIME MINISTER:
I think with all of these things, you're never absolutely certain
in the Senate until the final vote is taken.
JOURNALIST:
(Inaudible) the issue of Senator Harradine (inaudible).
PRIME MINISTER:
It's a beautiful afternoon.
JOURNALIST:
Sir you seem very relaxed. You've gone to this length to discuss
the matter with Senator Harradine, but now you say Senator Colston
could take (inaudible).
PRIME MINISTER:
I'm not taking any more questions on that. We have gone up
hill and down dale on that and it is getting a bit boring.
JOURNALIST:
But it is certainly a point on which you are having problems, Prime
Minister, with due respect.
PRIME MINISTER:
(laughs)
JOURNALIST:
On tax, the Labor Party quite successfully ran a negative campaign
in '93. Would you expect them to do it again?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well I suppose that if you don't care about Australians, yes.
But if you really cared about having a better tax system, a fairer
tax system for Australia, if you were worried about having a more
competitive tax system for the country, you would worry. But if
you don't care about the national interest, if all you are
worried about is winning votes, point scoring, then of course you
would run a negative campaign. But if you are really worried about
the long term interests of the country you would fight for tax reform.
And the reason that I am committed to tax reform and the government
is committed to tax reform is that I know it is good for Australia,
and I don't intend to be diverted from it, because what is
good for Australia is something the Government should pursue. If
Mr Beazley cared about he national interest instead of the Labor
interest I am sure he would also pursue it.
JOURNALIST:
There are some ads running tonight (inaudible)?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well those ads are not run by us, but I certainly agree that the
tax system is badly in need of change and repair. How you present
that is a matter for different individuals. But from my point of
view we have an unfair, ailing tax system. We're prepared to
do something about it for the good of Australia. Mr Beazley is adopting
a negative, frightened, backward-looking, point scoring approach
which I think over time Australia will come to condemn.
JOURNALIST:
(Inaudible)
PRIME MINISTER:
The tax burden will certainly not rise under us. Thank you.
JOURNALIST:
How seriously do you take Jackie Kelly's concerns?
PRIME MINISTER:
Jackie Kelly will win her seat at the next election. Thank you.
ends