NDIS debate: Pyne says Government has ‘no intention’ of increasing taxes to fund program
Senior Coalition Minister Christopher Pyne says the Government has no “absolutely no desire or intention” to increase taxes to help pay for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
His comments came less than 24 hours after Finance Minister Mathias Cormann floated the idea, with the Senate crossbench remaining opposed to the Government’s omnibus savings bill.
Treasurer Scott Morrison has vowed to redirect $3.1 billion in savings from the bill to the NDIS, should the savings be passed.
But South Australian senator Nick Xenophon has described that as a “sledgehammer” tactic.
Labor, the Greens and the Nick Xenophon Team remain opposed to the legislation, which rolls nearly $4 billion in saving measures into the one bill, including changes to child care, family payments and paid parental leave.
“If the Labor Party continues to stand in the way of fixing the budget mess they left behind, then there comes a day when the only way you can repair the budget is through tax increases,” Mr Cormann had told Lateline.
But Mr Pyne said the Finance Minister’s comments were merely stating “the bleeding obvious”, and ruled out any increase in taxes to pay for the NDIS.
Source: ABC News