Media Release by The Hon Jenny Macklin MP

Joe Hockey relaxed about Liberals great big new tax

Today the Shadow Treasurer, Joe Hockey, told Australian families and businesses to “relax” about Tony Abbott’s great big new tax to fund his millionaire mums paid parental leave plan.

Mr Hockey told reporters in Canberra Tony Abbott’s great big new tax “was not a significant increase”.

Mr Hockey is out of touch with the business community, who all agree that a 1.5 per cent increase to company tax certainly will have a big impact on their budget bottom line.

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Peter Anderson said just last week that Mr Abbott’s scheme is “very much on the excessive side.”

Mr Hockey also failed to allay the fears of business by refusing to clarify how many businesses will have to pay the Liberals new tax, telling them they will “see all the numbers before the next election.”

Australian families deserve better than a great big new tax that will hit them in the hip pocket.

Mr Abbott and Mr Hockey want every Australian to pay for millionaire mums to get $75,000 to have a baby.

In contrast, this Labor Government delivered Australia’s first national Paid Parental Leave scheme more than a year ago – a fully costed, fully funded scheme that 150,000 Australian families are already benefitting from.

Only a Labor Government understands working families and only a Labor Government delivers for working families.