BUSINESS

Senator CASH (Western Australia—Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) (10:00): I seek leave to move a motion relating to the routine of business—namely, the Albanese government's toxic taxes on housing, savings, investment, small business and younger Australians as circulated. Leave not granted. Senator CASH: Pursuant to contingent notice of motion, I move: That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent me from moving a motion to provide for the consideration of a motion to give precedence to a motion relating to the consideration of legislation—namely, the Albanese Labor government's toxic taxes on housing, savings, investment, small business and younger Australians.

When you actually read the motion, it is a very simple one. All it says to the government is 'tonight, yes, we are sitting until 10.30 Prime Minister.' We agree we should sit until 10.30 pm. However, what is missing from the government's guillotine and their dirty deal with the Australian Greens is the ability of the Australian Senate—and for those who are here today, the role of the Australian Senate is, on your behalf, to actually interrogate the government; in other words, to ask the government questions about the legislation that it is ramming through the Australian Senate tomorrow morning—to go into committee.

What does that mean? It means, at the end of second readers, the Senate goes into committee and we are able to interrogate the government in relation to the tax changes that the government are very happy to tell the Australian people are possibly some of the most substantial changes to taxation legislation that will be going through the Australian Senate. What is worse for the people listening in to this debate is not only are we unable currently to ask one question of the government in relation to their proposed changes, but the government have today dumped on the Senate around 30 amendments.

In other words, the government are so not sure about their own legislation—with the dirty deal that they've done with the Australian Greens to put through their toxic tax changes—they have now had to dream up 30 different amendments to the legislation. And the bad news is we have no ability to ask the government any questions in relation to 'Well, hey, hold on, what in God's name are these amendments going to do to the legislation?' Because remember this: prior to the election, Mr Albanese told the Australian people on no less than 50 occasions that he would be making no changes to negative gearing and no changes to CGT.

The dirty deals being done with the Australian Greens—who have never seen a tax they don't like, and would like to double it—mean we have no ability on behalf of the Australian people, as senators elected to represent the Australian people, to ask any questions about these changes. This is a government that like to stand up and say they're so sure about this legislation, that it is the right thing to do for our country, but not when presented in the next few minutes with the opportunity to allow the Australian Senate to do its job and to question the government about the impact of their changes.

Remember, this bill is going through tomorrow. The dirty deal has been done with the Australian Greens. They will push through higher taxes, whilst, at the same time, not actually taking up our offer to deal with the NDIS bill to make it more sustainable.

These are the questions that I have for the government: If you are so confident in your taxation changes—getting rid of negative gearing and getting rid of the capital gains discount—why will you not allow the Senate to ask you questions? Why are you reluctant? In fact, you're not reluctant, you're full-on avoiding any form of scrutiny in relation to your taxation bills.

What exactly are you afraid of? I'm going to answer my own question. I'll tell you what they're afraid of.

They are afraid that we will find out just how bad these bills are going to be. They are afraid that we will interrogate the 50—I was about to say 'lie'. President, I apologise.

I stopped myself from saying 'lie'. We will interrogate the 50 times that this prime minister said to the Australian people he would not make these changes. What are the questions that you don't want answered?

Well, I'll tell you what one of those questions is: the impact on the Australian people. What are the consequences you don't want examined? What are the flaws you don't want exposed?

Again, we are sitting until 10.30 tonight, but we have no ability to ask this government questions. They rammed this through a committee. Two days was all we were given, and, sadly, the committee stage brought up more questions that need to be answered.

Amendment after amendment after amendment has been dumped on the Senate. All we are asking the government today is for an opportunity to ask you questions in a committee stage.