Legislative Council: Wednesday, July 05, 2017

Contents

State Major Bank Levy

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:24): Further supplementary: can the minister then explain how, if its policies impact on businesses so that they have to expend more on taxes than they earn in their own revenues, they do not go out of business?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Let's have a little bit of order. Minister.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (14:25): I have to say it again: the banks, on whose side those opposite seem to be siding, on whose side they seem to be clearly on, made $30 billion in profits last year—$30 billion in profits last year, so undertaxed to the tune of $4 billion.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: This isn't a question of not having the profits to pay the tax. I will repeat again: $30 billion of profits.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Supplementary question. Order! The Hon. Mr Lucas.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Will the honourable Leader of the Government please allow the Hon. Mr Lucas to ask a question.