This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/aug/07/scott-morrison-urges-labor-to-support-zombie-budget-repair

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Scott Morrison urges Labor to support 'zombie' budget repair Scott Morrison urges Labor to support 'zombie' budget repair
(17 days later)
The treasurer, Scott Morrison, has called on Labor to pass $6.5bn of “zombie measures” it included in its own election costings, and ratcheted up pressure on One Nation and the Nick Xenophon Team to support budget savings.The treasurer, Scott Morrison, has called on Labor to pass $6.5bn of “zombie measures” it included in its own election costings, and ratcheted up pressure on One Nation and the Nick Xenophon Team to support budget savings.
Morrison also said the government would present the full 10-year $48bn company tax plan to the Senate, indicating an unwillingness to carve out cuts for small business to pass the package in stages.Morrison also said the government would present the full 10-year $48bn company tax plan to the Senate, indicating an unwillingness to carve out cuts for small business to pass the package in stages.
In an interview with Sky News on Sunday, Morrison said there were $40bn of budget savings and revenue measures before the parliament.In an interview with Sky News on Sunday, Morrison said there were $40bn of budget savings and revenue measures before the parliament.
Related: One Nation's Malcolm Roberts denies being 'sovereign citizen' and urges change to race law
He said ratings agencies concerned about government debt were not so much concerned with the trajectory set out in the budget but rather measures “not being passed, like in the last parliament”.He said ratings agencies concerned about government debt were not so much concerned with the trajectory set out in the budget but rather measures “not being passed, like in the last parliament”.
Asked about so-called zombie measures blocked in the Senate, Morrison said: “They are alive and they will be before the parliament and they can be voted for.Asked about so-called zombie measures blocked in the Senate, Morrison said: “They are alive and they will be before the parliament and they can be voted for.
“There are $6bn worth of savings that the Labor party put into their own forward estimates and the Parliamentary Budget Office confirmed that this week.”“There are $6bn worth of savings that the Labor party put into their own forward estimates and the Parliamentary Budget Office confirmed that this week.”
Asked if he expected Labor to support them, Morrison said: “If [Labor] put them in their estimates, they’ve said they support them.Asked if he expected Labor to support them, Morrison said: “If [Labor] put them in their estimates, they’ve said they support them.
“If they were to walk away from that $6.5bn of things they promised Australian people they would deliver, to do anything less than that would be hypocrisy in the extreme.”“If they were to walk away from that $6.5bn of things they promised Australian people they would deliver, to do anything less than that would be hypocrisy in the extreme.”
When Labor released its election costings, it quietly abandoned opposition to about $6bn of spending cuts including abolishing the $1.3bn energy supplement, a cut to the research and development tax offset saving just under $1bn and a cut to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.When Labor released its election costings, it quietly abandoned opposition to about $6bn of spending cuts including abolishing the $1.3bn energy supplement, a cut to the research and development tax offset saving just under $1bn and a cut to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.
Morrison said the Coalition would also seek Labor support for measures including cutting the family tax benefit supplement to fund childcare.Morrison said the Coalition would also seek Labor support for measures including cutting the family tax benefit supplement to fund childcare.
He said the government can’t make budget savings “in isolation, it obviously needs the support of those of the Labor party”.He said the government can’t make budget savings “in isolation, it obviously needs the support of those of the Labor party”.
“If they refuse to step up to their responsibilities, then it will fall to the Greens, it will fall to the other crossbenchers.“If they refuse to step up to their responsibilities, then it will fall to the Greens, it will fall to the other crossbenchers.
“Of course there’s senators Day and Leyonhjelm, who have been consistent supporters of the government’s efforts on budget repair. That puts a pretty significant responsibility on the Xen Team and One Nation.”“Of course there’s senators Day and Leyonhjelm, who have been consistent supporters of the government’s efforts on budget repair. That puts a pretty significant responsibility on the Xen Team and One Nation.”
Morrison said the government would “of course” bring legislation for all 10 years of its $48bn company tax to parliament but its fate would be “determined by the result in the Senate”.Morrison said the government would “of course” bring legislation for all 10 years of its $48bn company tax to parliament but its fate would be “determined by the result in the Senate”.
Asked about the possibility of carving out tax cuts for companies with a turnover of less than $10m, an option favoured by the Greens and other crossbench senators, Morrison said “they are entitled to their views”.Asked about the possibility of carving out tax cuts for companies with a turnover of less than $10m, an option favoured by the Greens and other crossbench senators, Morrison said “they are entitled to their views”.
“It’s important we put the plan forward as we put it to the Australian people,” he said. “There’s no walking back from that – there’s no walking back from any of the measures we put to Australian people at this election.”“It’s important we put the plan forward as we put it to the Australian people,” he said. “There’s no walking back from that – there’s no walking back from any of the measures we put to Australian people at this election.”
The new One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts told ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday he won’t decide whether to support the Turnbull government’s company tax cuts until he sees data on its economic impact.The new One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts told ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday he won’t decide whether to support the Turnbull government’s company tax cuts until he sees data on its economic impact.
Re-elected Liberal Democrat senator David Leyonhjelm said in the same interview his party was “a low-tax party, a small government party, so we will always support tax reductions”.Re-elected Liberal Democrat senator David Leyonhjelm said in the same interview his party was “a low-tax party, a small government party, so we will always support tax reductions”.
“The problem with Australia’s tax regime is we are high and uncompetitive by international standards,” he said.“The problem with Australia’s tax regime is we are high and uncompetitive by international standards,” he said.
“Singapore’s company tax is 17%, I think Ireland’s is 15%. It’s no wonder companies try to structure their affairs so they pay less tax in Australia and set up – and put their profits through Ireland and Singapore.”“Singapore’s company tax is 17%, I think Ireland’s is 15%. It’s no wonder companies try to structure their affairs so they pay less tax in Australia and set up – and put their profits through Ireland and Singapore.”
Related: Rate cut on cards as Reserve Bank highlights Australia's part-time problem
Morrison continued to resist Labor’s call for a royal commission into banks, labelling it “nothing but a populist whinge from Bill Shorten”.Morrison continued to resist Labor’s call for a royal commission into banks, labelling it “nothing but a populist whinge from Bill Shorten”.
He said Labor had not presented proposed terms of reference for a royal commission because, like a blank whiteboard, the issues changed daily.He said Labor had not presented proposed terms of reference for a royal commission because, like a blank whiteboard, the issues changed daily.
“I don’t know what the royal commission is apparently into – and, sadly, neither does Bill Shorten.”“I don’t know what the royal commission is apparently into – and, sadly, neither does Bill Shorten.”
Morrison warned a royal commission could undermine the banking and financial industry’s confidence. “That is a fire you don’t want to start.”Morrison warned a royal commission could undermine the banking and financial industry’s confidence. “That is a fire you don’t want to start.”
Morrison said compelling banks to explain their decisions about whether to pass on interest rate cuts or not would increase accountability.Morrison said compelling banks to explain their decisions about whether to pass on interest rate cuts or not would increase accountability.