STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Mr VIOLI (Casey) (13:52): This is a tricky government that says one thing and does another. It might talk about lower taxes, but the reality is this budget is delivering $77 billion in higher taxes for the Australian people. They also talk about tax cuts, but they don't talk about when they let the low- and middle-income tax offset lapse, costing the Australian people $1,500.

They took that $1,500 back from you. They then also wait for your wages to go up as you work harder, as you earn more money and as you pay more tax through bracket creep, and then they will give you a sprinkle of that back. You'll notice it with this announcement from the Treasurer.

It follows his standard playbook. He announced that you'll get $250 back. He talked about it for the last two weeks.

You'll receive that money in 12 months time. He'll keep talking about it for the next few weeks. That doesn't help you today.

The reason he pushes it out for 12 months is you're paying for that yourself. Through earning more money, you're paying more tax. Inflation will mean you pay higher taxes.

You'll pay more than $250 in extra tax through inflation under this government in the next 12 months. They'll give you a little bit back and then they'll pat you on the back. Watch them this week.

Watch them talk about the tax cut that you'll get on 1 July. That was promised last year. This is what they do.

They drip it out and drag it out. They're not giving the money back to you. They're taking more of your money and giving you a little bit back less.