Lambie votes to improve Liberal’s Backpacker Legislation

Independent JLN Senator for Tasmania Jacqui Lambie this morning, on the behalf of desperate Tasmanian farmers – has voted to improve the Liberal’s Backpacker legislation and make it internationally competitive.

“The Senate had an opportunity to vote against the Liberal’s flawed backpacker legislation – however instead of opposing the legislation the official record will show it proceeded through the Senate’s second reading, without any opposition. For Tasmanian Liberal members like Senator Duniam to say I blocked the backpacker legislation is a desperate lie, easily disproved by the Senate’s official record, Hansard.” said Senator Lambie.

“During the Committee stage of the Backpacker debate, I simply voted to improve the Government’s own legislation – and make it internationally competitive, by lowering the tax rate to 10.5%. Every Australian farmer and visiting backpacker knows that New Zealand’s headline tax rate for backpackers is 10.5% – and if we are going to have a lasting and competitive Backpacker tax rate, ours also must be set at 10.5%.” said Senator Lambie.

“The issue is now back in the hands of the Government – where it has been for the last 18months. The Government now have their own legislation waiting for debate and a vote sitting in the lower house. The Government has a decision on whether they support Backpacker Tax legislation – which is internationally competitive at 10.5% – or will they vote to ensure that the Backpacker Tax rises from 0 to 32.5% ? ” said Senator Lambie.

“I’m calling on the Prime Minister to personally take charge of this matter and bring some honesty, reason and common-sense to the problem. If he can take over the SA water crisis and cut out the destructive influence of deputy PM Barnaby Joyce’s ego – then he can do the same for the Backpacker crisis.

Prime Minister Turnbull, like all Australians – knows that his Deputy Pm Joyce is incapable of swallowing his pride and admitting that he’s wrong. The PM knows that we must have an internationally competitive Backpacker Tax rate at 10.5% to compete with New Zealand. The PM knows that the best hope our farmers have of surviving long term in this global world market – is to be internationally competitive.

Let’s do it once and do it right – and make our Backpacker Tax rate internationally competitive.” said Senator Lambie
Rob Messenger for Senator Jacqui Lambie Senator for Tasmania