Hockey is misrepresenting the position of both The Greens and the Labor Party.
Opposition to this tax increase is based of keeping the Liberals to their mandate.
Their three word slogan was "No new taxes".
A tax increase is a new tax. Hockey should be grateful to the opposition parties for keeping the Liberals to their mandate.
The Liberals won an election by promising "no new taxes". If they want to change their mandate they need to call an election and promise to raise taxes. Taxes do need to be raised. Increase the fuel exercise together with an appropriate carbon price. Increase the GST. Readjust the mining tax and income taxes. These measures could change the trajectories of government spending and receipts over time.
Yes they need to be done but not by this government. They won an election on a promise and our senate is there to keep them to that promise. Sure they made the wrong promise but if they want to be honest, they need to change their suite of promises and call an election. They have a dd trigger if they want to use it.
