Ms O'DWYER: I rise to speak on the minority dissenting report on the Mineral Resource Rent Tax Bill 2011 and 10 related bills. These bills contain some of the most complex tax changes ever introduced into the parliament. There are 11 bills in total and they account for more than 525 pages of legislation. You would think that, in these circumstances, the Government would be keen for proper scrutiny of these tax changes. You would think that the Government would want to evaluate the impact of these tax changes on employment, on investment, on Australia's international competitiveness, on the Commonwealth budget position, on state and territory revenues, on whether the tax changes have a disproportionate impact on smaller miners vis-a-vis larger miners. But no, it is clear that the Government does not wish to look at these elements in detail. Despite the Government's high-minded rhetoric on undertaking tax reform to make laws 'simpler and fairer', it appears that the Government does not want to hold to this test. It is simply interested in the revenue that will flow from any tax changes made. This is clear from the fact that the Treasurer allowed only 12 business days to conduct this inquiry and report. There were only three business days on which people could make submissions to the inquiry.
... (22-Nov)