Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

It provides an enormous boost to the economy. It builds a substantial part of our export income. As a nation we benefit from the mining industry. As a nation we benefit from the investment in the mining sector. As a people we benefit from the mining industry, which pays income tax, royalties and a whole stack of other taxes to ensure that we are able to provide the services and facilities that we want as a nation. So it is completely wrong to suggest that the mining industry only benefits nine people, seven people or whatever you have suggested.

I also have to say that I find the opposition's commentary about superannuation for low-income earners utterly hypocritical. When Labor were in government they got rid of the low-income superannuation contributions scheme. They took $3.3 billion from low-income Australian worker superannuation schemes. Labor took $3.3 billion away from low-income earners for their superannuation schemes; they have no right—no right—to criticise those who need to make decisions and who need to deliver outcomes because Labor had a failed budget.

Labor had a budget that was spending money that they were not making. The reality is that we had to bring that under control. You have to make some tough decisions from time to time; we have been prepared to do that. But what we are doing is investing in our country and ensuring that the young people—the student leadership group that you referred to—will have jobs and opportunities in great industries like mining into the future, and delivering real benefits to all Australians.

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