Mr TURNBULL (Leader of the Opposition) (2:01 PM) —My question is addressed to the Prime Minister. Would the Prime Minister advise the House how many criminals will receive the Prime Minister’s $900 cash splash cheque? Could he also advise the House when he gave the green light to his new cash-for-crims stimulus package?

Mr RUDD (Prime Minister) —I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for his question. On the matter he raises, I have some interesting information for the House. I am advised that under the Howard government—a government comprised of Mr Howard, Mr Costello, Mr Turnbull and Mr Hockey—bonuses were paid to people in exactly the same situation as the subject of the questioning today. The low-income tax offset bonuses handed down by the Howard government were paid to people in exactly the same situation which those opposite are feigning such outrage over today. They supported these payments when they were in government and, now they are in opposition, they have undergone a 180-degree backflip because they are governed by political opportunism.

I am advised that the tax bonus is available to anyone who is an Australian resident for tax purposes in the 2007-08 income tax year and who meets the other eligibility requirements. I am further advised that the series of personal income tax measures under the Howard government in 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07 flowed through to the vast majority of incarcerated individuals who paid tax in the relevant financial year. I am advised that there is only one tax treatment that excludes incarcerated individuals and that is the senior Australian tax offset. The ATO has advised that it could not exclude persons in this category who had paid tax in the 2007-08 financial year with the information currently available.

In framing his first question in question time today, I think it would have been important for the Leader of the Opposition to simply do this: reflect on what you did in government and apply the same principle to yourself.