Speeches by Senator David Bushby
Tax Laws Amendment (Luxury Car Tax) Bill 2008: Second Reading Recommittal
Wed, 17 Sep 2008
I find it slightly surreal that I am standing here again to speak on this suite of bills so soon after I did the same thing some few short weeks ago. The fact is that the government had every opportunity to educate, lobby and negotiate on the Tax Laws Amendment (Luxury Car Tax) Bill 2008 and related bills prior to them being voted on at that time. The... Read more »
Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill 2008: Second Reading
Mon, 15 Sep 2008
I rise to speak on the Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill 2008. The bill amends sections 46, 51 and 155 of the Trade Practices Act 1974 and seeks to clarify a number of terms relating to predatory pricing and unconscionable conduct. The amendments to sections 51 and 155 can be described as little more than procedural changes and will make... Read more »
Tax Laws Amendment (Medicare Levy Surcharge Thresholds) Bill 2008: Second Reading
Mon, 15 Sep 2008
I rise today to speak on the Tax Laws Amendment (Medicare Levy Surcharge Thresholds) Bill 2008. The impact of the federal government’s proposed changes to the Medicare levy surcharge thresholds in the public hospital system are of serious concern and should frighten all Australians who care about the public health system and all state governments... Read more »
Tax Laws Amendment (Luxury Car Tax) Bill 2008: Second Reading
Wed, 3 Sep 2008
When I was last speaking on the Tax Laws Amendment (Luxury Car Tax) Bill 2008 and related bills I was saying to the Senate that you would think that a Labor government, of all flavours of governments, would want to see more people able to afford cars that are well equipped with safety and technological features; that they would be looking to bring the... Read more »
Tax Laws Amendment (2008 Measures No. 4) Bill 2008: Second Reading
Wed, 3 Sep 2008
I rise to speak on the Tax Laws Amendment (2008 Measures No. 4) Bill 2008, a bill which combines a number of unrelated matters, some of which make good sense and others which represent very poor policy and which are hard to justify other than on a shameful, ideological and outdated approach to class envy, the rural sector and small business that I... Read more »
Tax Laws Amendment (Luxury Car Tax) Bill 2008: Second Reading
Mon, 1 Sep 2008
The Tax Laws Amendment (Luxury Car Tax) Bill 2008 and related bills are further clear examples of a government far more interested in trying to manage its public image than in getting on and governing the nation in the interests of its people. The fact is that if the government had made no policy changes in its budget in May this year the surplus would... Read more »
Reserve Bank Amendment (Enhanced Independence) Bill 2008: Second Reading
Mon, 23 Jun 2008
I rise today to speak on what I believe to be a highly flawed bill. The Reserve Bank Amendment (Enhanced Independence) Bill 2008 is nothing more than a stunt to create the impression that the Labor government is doing something to address the terrible lack of independence in the Reserve Bank, something it never revered as special or noted as lacking... Read more »