One question minister won’t answer on tax change
Labor leaders have carefully evaded questions as to whether they’ll resurrect changes to negative gearing, with one minister dodging it multiple times on breakfast television.
Concerns have risen over suggestions the Albanese government may make changes to negative gearing, a scheme allowing taxpayers to offset costs associated with investment property against taxable income.
On Nine’s Today, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher affirmed “no plans” to target other tax concessions but refused to confirm if future changes were on the table.
“Would you mind repeating after me this morning? There will be no changes to negative gearing under our government?” Today host Karl Stefanovic
asked. “We have no plans to do that, Karl. We don’t. We’ve got a full tax reform,” Senator Gallagher responded.
“No plans. That’s not what I asked. Would you mind repeating it? There’ll be no changes to negative gearing under my government?” Stefanovic probed.
The finance minister repeated her earlier statement, declaring “no plans”.
When asked about negative gearing earlier, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said there had been “no discussions” among party members.
Anthony Albanese took a broader stance when asked about the issue, declaring the government had a “range of policies” about tax in place.
“One of the things we’ve seen here is we have a very big policy on the table and the Coalition
want to talk about anything else,” the Prime Minister told ABC RN.
Spruiking his new tax policy before parliament’s return next week, Mr Albanese stood firm behind his decision to slash tax cuts for high-income earners to redistribute them to lower and middle-income workers, despite previously vowing not to touch the policy. He said his overhaul to the tax cuts won’t force the RBA to delay cutting interest rates and said new figures showing a drop in inflation meant things were moving “in the right direction.”
“It is welcome and encouraging progress in the challenge of dealing with inflation, but that work continues because we know that people are still under pressure and we need to not be complacent about it,” Mr Albanese said on Wednesday.
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