QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Dr CHALMERS (Rankin—Treasurer) (14:31): If the honourable member knew anything about tax legislation, he would know that these are not extraordinary powers, and the legislative instruments that are used to determine definitions in the tax system are disallowable by the parliament in the usual way. I don't remember hearing any of this from any of those opposite when governments of the opposite political persuasion had exactly the same kind of system.

Now, if any of those opposite knew anything about tax legislation, they would know that big tax reform is done in tranches of legislation and that the definitions are settled in legislative instruments, which can be disallowed by the parliament. The problem that the member opposite asking the question has is just because you can get someone to write this rubbish doesn't make it true.

It doesn't make it true. There is nothing extraordinary about treasurers of either political persuasion settling definitions in this manner. I've finished my answer.