Joyce advocates tax break for poor

Barnaby Joyce has called for debate on a proposal that Aborigines and others who live in impoverished communities shouldn't pay tax until they earn more than 80 thousand dollars.

Senator Joyce sees it as a partial solution to spiralling unemployment in some parts of the country.

The idea's been dismissed by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott as not part of Coalition policy, but the Nationals senator hasn't been put off.

Senator Joyce wants the scheme set up on Queensland's Palm Island where he says the unemployment rate is worse than Iraq.