The former Howard government minister says he made repeated inquiries to the prime minister's office with no success about the terms of reference of a parliamentary inquiry into northern Australia's economy.
Speaking in the Senate earlier today, Senator Macdonald said he found out about the terms of references by accident.
"I was particularly disappointed as my many inquiries to the prime minister's office - who seem to almost have an almost obsessive centralised control phobia over this and every other aspect of parliament - responded to me when I kept enquiring that 'we will let you know when the terms of reference are eventually decided'," he said.
Senator Macdonald has been advocating for the government to consider introducing lower tax rates for certain zones, or regional areas, in northern Australia to entice businesses to base themselves there.
Currently one single company tax rate applies across Australia.
Shortly after Senator Macdonald's outburst in the Senate, the federal government agreed to amend the terms of reference to include examining the zonal tax issue.
"To develop Northern Australia it is imperative that, from the start, we have the tools to attract businesses and workers to the North, and flexible zone tax arrangements are a vital part of this plan," Senator Macdonald wrote on his website.
"The development of Northern Australia has been a passion of mine since I entered the Parliament in 1990 – it was the subject of my maiden speech. On several occasions since then we have been on the verge of achieving a government commitment, but each time it has been put on the backburner.
"I am determined that will not happen this time and am confident that the White Paper will lay out a sensible and practical path to achieving what has been my life’s dream.
"This is not just for the benefit of Northern Australia, although those benefits will be great, but for the benefit of the whole Australian economy."
