Goods and Services Tax

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (15:28): My question is again to the Treasurer. Does the Treasurer agree with former prime minister Paul Keating that any increase to the GST is 'fiscal folly'?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy) (15:28): I think you will find that the author of the GST in this nation's consciousness is former prime minister Paul Keating, with option C, and in the most recent article he published he actually advocated for an increase in the GST to 12.5 per cent. Perhaps the Leader of the Opposition, in his question time tactics, should read the entire article rather than just stopping up to the part that he likes, and complete reading the entire article.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Prime minister Keating offers his wisdom. We often seek his guidance on many issues, but in that very article that the Leader of the Opposition is quoting, the former prime minister himself advocates an increase to 12.5 per cent. So, quite frankly, perhaps the Leader of the Opposition should read the article in its entirety first.

The SPEAKER: I call to order the members for Elder, Stuart and Hammond, and I warn the member for Morialta. Leader.