One Nation leader Pauline Hanson threatens to sink Coalition’s company tax cuts
The One Nation leader says she'll take calls on tax cuts. Photo: ABC
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has effectively withdrawn her party’s support for the Federal Government’s proposed company tax cuts.
Senator Hanson struck a deal with the Coalition in March to support the tax cuts in exchange for an apprenticeship pilot program for young Australians.
But the One Nation leader — who controls three votes in the Senate — says no money has been put aside for the program.
Senator Hanson now says the Federal Government hasn’t done enough to reduce debt, and the company tax cuts would not create enough jobs in the short term.
The Queensland senator has now introduced a new suite of demands in return for her support, including scaling back the nation’s immigration intake.
In an interview with The Australian, Senator Hanson reiterated her party’s support for changing the petroleum resource rent tax, to make large companies pay more tax.
Senator Hanson’s change of mind presents a headache for the Federal Government, which has failed to convince the crossbench to support the change.
It wanted to pass the legislation before the budget, but was forced to defer debate with new independent senator Tim Storer unconvinced.
Finance Minsiter Mathias Cormann, who has led negotiations with the senate crossbenchers, said the Government would continue to make it’s case.
“We will not leave any stone unturned,” he told Sky News.
