20th Jun 2018, 11:32 AM – Senate Treasury Laws Amendment (Personal Income Tax Plan) Bill 2018 - Second Reading - Note problems of bill

The majority voted against an amendment to the usual second reading motion, which is that the bill be read a second time (parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of the bill). This means the original motion will remain unchanged.

Amendment text

At the end of the motion, add "but the Senate notes that the bill:

(a) significantly reduces the progressive nature of the income tax system;

(b) does not target low income earners, who are most affected by bracket creep;

(c) does not improve the living standards of those who are unable to find work;

(d) will not help reduce inequality; and

(e) locks in tax cuts that:

(i) are premised on economic forecasts that have a high degree of uncertainty; and

(ii) in 7 years' time, will constrain a future government's capacity to provide public services and to invest in public infrastructure".