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Q&A recap: vote me out next election if you don't like tax cuts, Turnbull says Q&A recap: vote me out next election if you don't like tax cuts, Turnbull says
(2 months later)
The prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, says if voters don’t like how his government’s $50bn 10-year corporate tax cut plan is unrolling within three years they can vote him out at the next election.The prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, says if voters don’t like how his government’s $50bn 10-year corporate tax cut plan is unrolling within three years they can vote him out at the next election.
He is also certain conditions inside the Manus Island detention centre on Papua New Guinea are not as bad as former workers are claiming.He is also certain conditions inside the Manus Island detention centre on Papua New Guinea are not as bad as former workers are claiming.
During a long, solo Q&A appearance on Monday evening, Turnbull struggled with a cold while taking questions from the public on a wide range of topics including corporate tax cuts, GP-co payments, and the National Broadband Network (NBN).During a long, solo Q&A appearance on Monday evening, Turnbull struggled with a cold while taking questions from the public on a wide range of topics including corporate tax cuts, GP-co payments, and the National Broadband Network (NBN).
Related: Q&A: Turnbull questioned over Medicare, tax reform and offshore detention – politics live
It was the longest sustained period of public questioning he has submitted himself to during the election campaign.It was the longest sustained period of public questioning he has submitted himself to during the election campaign.
The event was a largely somniferous one, with meandering answers about topics such as budget forward estimates, vertical fiscal imbalance and increasing tax thresholds to fight off bracket creep.The event was a largely somniferous one, with meandering answers about topics such as budget forward estimates, vertical fiscal imbalance and increasing tax thresholds to fight off bracket creep.
There were a few testy moments, including when he criticised the host, Tony Jones, for being a spokesman for the ALP when Jones tried to explain Labor’s stated plan to return the budget to surplus.There were a few testy moments, including when he criticised the host, Tony Jones, for being a spokesman for the ALP when Jones tried to explain Labor’s stated plan to return the budget to surplus.
“I’ve never heard them explain it quite as well as you,” Turnbull told Jones. “You should do more work for them. You’re a very good spokesman for the ALP.”“I’ve never heard them explain it quite as well as you,” Turnbull told Jones. “You should do more work for them. You’re a very good spokesman for the ALP.”
But Turnbull also pushed a new pitch to voters from Liberal party headquarters, asking the audience to give his government a try for just three more years to see what it can achieve.But Turnbull also pushed a new pitch to voters from Liberal party headquarters, asking the audience to give his government a try for just three more years to see what it can achieve.
After that, he said, they can vote him out of office if they’re unhappy.After that, he said, they can vote him out of office if they’re unhappy.
“If we are re-elected, next financial year, beginning July 1, there will be a 1% reduction in company tax to 27.5% for companies with a turnover of $10 million or less. The next year it will be $25m or less,” he said“If we are re-elected, next financial year, beginning July 1, there will be a 1% reduction in company tax to 27.5% for companies with a turnover of $10 million or less. The next year it will be $25m or less,” he said
“The next year it will be $50m or less and then there will be another election. You can then choose to chuck me out as PM if you don’t like those three years if I’m elected.”“The next year it will be $50m or less and then there will be another election. You can then choose to chuck me out as PM if you don’t like those three years if I’m elected.”
He also stuck to the Coalition’s hard line on asylum seekers, saying the government could not budge one bit from its policy because people smugglers would exploit the change.He also stuck to the Coalition’s hard line on asylum seekers, saying the government could not budge one bit from its policy because people smugglers would exploit the change.
Related: Q&A: Bill Shorten raises prospect of Indigenous treaty and university fee cap
An audience member said a contractor who had worked on Manus Island had described the way in which asylum seekers are treated inside the centre as being “worse than animals,” and he wondered if Turnbull would visit the centre to see it for himself.An audience member said a contractor who had worked on Manus Island had described the way in which asylum seekers are treated inside the centre as being “worse than animals,” and he wondered if Turnbull would visit the centre to see it for himself.
Turnbull replied: “The Manus Island facility is managed by, as you know, by the government of Papua New Guinea. We are satisfied that the conditions there are not as described by the contractor you referred to.”Turnbull replied: “The Manus Island facility is managed by, as you know, by the government of Papua New Guinea. We are satisfied that the conditions there are not as described by the contractor you referred to.”
“I recognise all of us, every one – none of us have hearts of stone. All of us understand how harsh it is, our policy is in terms of its impact on particular individuals.“I recognise all of us, every one – none of us have hearts of stone. All of us understand how harsh it is, our policy is in terms of its impact on particular individuals.
“[But] we have closed 14 of 17 detention centres in Australia. We have been able to do that because we have stopped the boats. Now, I grant you it is tough. It is tough. But the alternative is far worse and that is what I, as PM, that’s the tough choice that you entrust me to make as this nation’s leader.”“[But] we have closed 14 of 17 detention centres in Australia. We have been able to do that because we have stopped the boats. Now, I grant you it is tough. It is tough. But the alternative is far worse and that is what I, as PM, that’s the tough choice that you entrust me to make as this nation’s leader.”