He could not answer when the Liberals promised tax cuts would start, how much theyd be, or how he planned to pay for them despite promising these tax cuts last year. Now tax cuts are only in prospect.
Tony Abbott has already voted against tax cuts for 2.7 million small businesses last November, now he is walking away from his own tax cut promise.
Lets not forget the Howard Government was the highest taxing government in Australias history. When Tony Abbott was last in Government, the Liberals were levying taxes worth 23.7 per cent of the economy, compared to 21.8 per cent this financial year.
Despite Joe Hockey announcing a $70 billion budget crater on breakfast television last year, Tony Abbott last year committed to tax cuts.
SABRA LANE: Will you roll back the tax payments and the additional welfare payments?
TONY ABBOTT: Well, what Ive said and Im very happy to keep saying it is that under the Coalition there will be a tax cut without a carbon tax.
ABBOTT ABC RADIO 12 JULY 2011
But today he walked away from that commitment, admitting they would not be delivered in the first term, only in prospect:By the close of the next coalition governments first term....more tax cuts will be in prospect.
ABBOTT NPC 31 JANUARY 2012
And Tony Abbott said later:The precise timing and the precise quantum is something that we will announce in good time before the next election.
ABBOTT NPC 31 JANUARY 2012
The Labor Government has delivered $47 billion of personal tax cuts which have reduced the tax paid by someone earning $50,000 by 18 per cent.The Government has also delivered major increases to the Childcare Tax Rebate, the Education Tax Refund, family tax benefits, and is delivering more tax cuts this year as part of the Clean Energy Future package, as well as a major tax cut for small business starting from 1 July.
By contrast Mr Abbott has announced he is increasing the company tax rate, and opposing major tax relief for small business.
