Interview with Karl Stefanovic, The Today Show, Channel Nine

KARL STEFANOVIC, HOST:    And just like that, the fleeting parliamentary inquiry into Labor's tax reforms will wrap up today. To discuss, I'm joined by Minister for Employment Amanda Rishworth and Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson. Morning, guys. Nice to see you. So, Amanda, let's face it, the Senate inquiry's a bit of a dud. No one believes it's actually an inquiry. Why are you rushing through something two-thirds of the country despises?

AMANDA RISHWORTH, MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS:    Well, firstly, I would say that anyone has had an opportunity to put in a submission to the inquiry. And, of course, there's been a number of witnesses over two days.

TIM WILSON, SHADOW TREASURER:    [Talks over] Get real, Amanda.

AMANDA RISHWORTH:    This isn't the first inquiry this year into the 50 per cent capital gains tax discount.

TIM WILSON:    Two days is not a day and timeframe to be able to make submissions.

AMANDA RISHWORTH:    There has already been a Senate inquiry into the 50 per cent capital gains discount, and overwhelmingly the evidence was presented to that that the system needed to change. And so, obviously, we're going through the process of looking at the evidence, but the fundamentals are right. We want to make sure more people can get into a home and see that income earners, particularly workers, gets tax cuts.

KARL STEFANOVIC:    Two-thirds of the country hate it. Tim, was it more like a Labor speed dating session at the pub?

TIM WILSON:    I barely even go that far. I'm calling BS on what Amanda just said. Two days to make submissions to the inquiry. Not all of the submissions have even been published yet by the parliamentary inquiry. This is a railroad effort. We've got small businesses across this country bleeding. We have record small business insolvencies, and the response of the government is to bully and silence them and make sure they can't have their say. Some of us are sick of it, Karl. I'm out here in Cheltenham this morning, and you've got small businesses who are waking up at sparrow’s fart to provide coffee and to connect with people. And the only answer that Amanda has is to shut up and get back in your place. 

AMANDA RISHWORTH:    Well, Tim, that is not true at all. And maybe you should table your book because, of course, you've argued for these changes also. 

TIM WILSON:    No, grow up, Amanda, that's not true.

AMANDA RISHWORTH:    Well, you're telling me to grow up? All right, good one. I’ll take that advice.

TIM WILSON:    Small businesses all around the country are screaming for help and your answer to this is to turn around and to censor and silence them. There's a point at which Australians are going to have their say. You didn't give it to people at the last election. You didn't give it to people at the last election. You lied before the Australian people before the last election.

KARL STEFANOVIC:    Wow.

AMANDA RISHWORTH:    That is just not true.

TIM WILSON:    You're now ramming this through the Parliament and refusing to even hear them. At what point are Australians- get to have their say about this?

KARL STEFANOVIC:    It's still running hot. We've got to get to some other issues. But there's lots of passion, lots of heat, and there's a lot of division in the community as a result of these proposed changes. That can't be denied. Amanda, apparently you're now considering cost-of-living relief measures. That's like a bolt out of the blue, isn't it? Or are you that worried about One Nation?

AMANDA RISHWORTH:    Well, we've been very clear that the legislation before the Parliament has tax cuts in it. That was in our budget. In fact, five different tax cuts in three different ways. We do believe in supporting Australian workers and we do believe in tax cuts, and Tim actually voted against those tax cuts. He chose to vote against tax cuts for workers and he will have to explain that, because it's not the first time his party's done that, of course. Before the last election, once again, voted against tax cuts. So we will always look at ways that we can support people, making sure that they can get that opportunity to get into their first home, so they're not bidding against investors who are just able to go higher because they're backed with tax breaks. That's what fairness is about, Tim. You talked about it in your book. Pity you can't live it.

TIM WILSON:    Amanda, you voted 11 times against our tax cuts.

KARL STEFANOVIC:    Tim?

TIM WILSON:    Well, I mean, Amanda needs to get a breathalyser. I mean, this is just we need a reality check on what's happened. We put into Parliament 11 times different forms of tax cuts. So Jim Chalmers' active inflation agenda that constantly increases taxes silently on Australians would be cut out. Amanda voted 11 times against them in the Parliament. But let's just be truthful and honest.

AMANDA RISHWORTH:    That is just ridiculous.

TIM WILSON:    The Australian people did not vote for this budget. The Australian people were not given their say. At every point, they sought to censor and silence Australians on the impact of their budget. And when it comes to the cost of relief measures, they're always adding more inflation onto the pressure, which means Jim Chalmers takes a bigger tax take.

AMANDA RISHWORTH:    That is just not accurate.

KARL STEFANOVIC:    All right, just finally, Amanda, will you be holding special prayer group meetings today, ahead of the RBA's meeting?

AMANDA RISHWORTH:    Well, look, of course the RBA is independent and they will make their decision independently. I would note that inflation has come down, but it's still too high than we would like. Of course, as the government, we're doing everything we can, and there's obviously been significant international development. And, of course, we welcome the ceasefire, but recovery will take some time. And so, of course, we will continue to do everything we can as a government, to shield Australians from the worst.

KARL STEFANOVIC:    Will you keep the fuel excise reduction? Really, really quickly.

AMANDA RISHWORTH:    Well, as the Prime Minister has said, we're monitoring the circumstance. We'll make decisions in coming weeks.

KARL STEFANOVIC:    All right guys, appreciate your time today. It was fiery, but it was good. Thank you.