The Nationals are demanding Prime Minister Anthony Albanese call an election, after the Labor Party introduced tax changes today that they didn’t have the guts to take the Australian people.
Nationals Leader, Matt Canavan, said the Prime Minister owed it to Australians to call an election immediately, after betraying Australian families, businesses, and farmers.
“Today is a sad day for democracy because Labor has introduced the biggest tax changes in a generation, without a mandate, for the Australian people,” Senator Canavan said.
“The Australian people should have a choice about whether they sign up to the Labor Party’s plan to the biggest tax grab in history, or The Nationals’ plan, to lower taxes and lower the cost of living, while scrapping net zero and securing our borders.
“There is a clear choice and a clear contrast between what The Nationals are offering and what this Labor Government is trying to sneak through without a mandate.
“We have a country in distress, with energy prices through the roof and small businesses already struggling.
“But today, our democracy is in distress too, because people should not be taxed before they have a say in what those taxes are. That’s why we believe an election should be called immediately.”
Labor’s obsession with over-spending and over-taxing means the Budget is forecast to be in deficit for a decade, while debt will pass $1 trillion.
Under the changes introduced, a 30 per cent minimum tax on discretionary trusts will begin from July 2028, while the 50 per cent capital gains tax will be replaced with CPI indexation, and a minimum 30 per cent tax on gains will apply from July 2027.
This is all so Labor can raise $80 billion, while Labor’s secret inflation tax will raise a further $200 billion.
Negative gearing will apply to new builds only, while grandfathering existing properties – meaning the younger generation will be locked out of using negative gearing to build their own wealth.
Deputy Leader of The Nationals Darren Chester said Labor’s toxic taxes are an assault on aspiration.
“The Nationals oppose Labor’s toxic taxes across every single tax increase that has passed through Parliament today,” Mr Chester said.
“No one can ever trust anything the Prime Minister or this Labor Government says ever again.
“We now know Labor will tell you one thing, then take your hard work and effort for themselves in the blink of an eye. It begs the question – what is coming next?”
The Nationals’ Senate Leader Bridget McKenzie said the Hawke–Keating Labor and Howard–Costello Liberal/Nationals governments had the guts to take major tax reforms to an election, and if Albanese and Chalmers are so confident in their punitive taxes they should have the guts to let the Australian people have their say at an election.
“The Coalition will fight Labor’s new tax increases in the Senate including through an inquiry into the tax legislation which will empower all impacted Australians to have their say,” Senator McKenzie said.
