Senator FIFIELD (3.16 p.m.)-I would like to take up some of the points raised by Senator Forshaw and Senator Sherry. Firstly, in relation to the super co-contribution, I think we have got to come back to the facts. Let us remember that the government is going to be providing a boost to retirement savings of $2.1 billion over four years to enhance this scheme. The government will now be contributing $1.50 for every dollar of voluntary personal contribution to a maximum of $1,500 for those on incomes of up to $28,000. For example, under the expanded super co-contribution, a young person entering the work force who earns $25,000 and makes an additional personal contribution of $1,000 will now receive a maximum government co-contribution of $1,500. Whether we are talking about $5 a week or the change from the weekly shopping, someone on $25,000 a year will receive $1.50 from the government for every dollar they personally contribute up to the $1,500 limit.
Senator Sherry talks a lot about cameos. We did not hear a lot about cameos when Labor promised to introduce their l-a-w law tax cuts, because it is hard to have cameos on things that do not really exist. It is very interesting that Labor are avoiding at all costs talking about tax at the moment. That is because there are only three types of tax cuts that Labor believe in. There are those that are l-a-w, One Nation tax cuts-in other words, those that never get delivered. There are those tax cuts that Labor just oppose outright-the tax cuts we had with the new tax system. How you could oppose them I do not know, but Labor did. We have to remember that, when Labor talk about tax cuts not being generous enough for those on low incomes, Labor opposed tax cuts to directly benefit those people. Whatever tax people on lower incomes are paying today, they would have been paying far more if not for that first round of tax cuts. The third lot of tax cuts are those that Labor reluctantly support-those in this budget and those in the last budget. It is the height of hypocrisy for Labor to talk about tax cuts not being generous when they have failed to deliver their own tax cuts and opposed our new tax system tax cuts.
I want to return to superannuation for a moment. Again, Labor on superannuation is the height of hypocrisy. The government introduced the superannuation surcharge. We are reducing the rate. The only reason the superannuation surcharge was introduced in the first place was that Labor left us a $96 billion deficit. The only reason that measure was introduced was that Labor forced it on the government. It is hypocrisy for Labor to talk about superannuation-and to talk about tax as well.
Labor just do not believe Australians deserve more money in their pockets. They do not like Australians having choice in how they spend that money. Now we hear the great deception: not only are Labor going to support our tax cuts but they are going to deliver bigger tax cuts. Remember when Mr Crean in his first incarnation as shadow Treasurer promised bigger surpluses than the coalition? Now I have heard everything-Labor then supporting bigger surpluses than the coalition and Labor now supporting bigger tax cuts than the coalition? It is a very good trick!
Senator Forshaw was speaking about family assistance. This budget delivers a $37 billion family package. There is a $600 per year increase in family tax benefit part A for each dependent child and an immediate lump sum payment of $600 before 30 June 2004 for all families receiving or eligible for family tax benefit part A. This is the most significant family benefit package in Australian history. But we did not hear anything today about what Labor’s response will be tonight. The Leader of the Opposition in the other place has to say tonight what he is going to do in relation to taxation and how he is going to fund bigger tax cuts. (Time expired)