Anthony Albanese has targeted ABC’s Michael Rowland in a head-to-head confrontation in which he accused the host of playing “word games”.
The Prime Minister made the comment after he was repeatedly asked why he refused to use the word “pledge” when asked about his commitment to the controversial phase three tax cuts.
“Can you promise that they will come into full force in July?” Rowland asked.
Albanese emphasized that his government’s position on austerity has not changed since the federal election.
“I know there’s an ongoing debate about the impact of those tax cuts. But we are in favor of a tax cut,” he replied.
But the ABC presenter pushed back: “Can you promise, as you did before the election, that the phase three tax cuts will be fully implemented in July?”
“Well, I said we haven’t changed our position, Michael.”
Anthony Albanese takes on Michael Rowland over phase three tax cuts.
Mr Rowland asked twice more whether he wanted to use the word promise.
‘It’s not exactly a promise, Prime Minister? It was a promise before the elections. Has that promise changed?’
A visibly frustrated Mr Albanese then blasted the host.
“You can play word games, Michael. Nothing has changed. “Nothing has changed, the government has exactly the same position,” he said.
‘We are doing what we can to tackle the pressure on the cost of living. Part of this will receive a tax reduction. And that tax relief will be important to people.”
The phase three tax cuts, which come into effect in July, will eliminate the 37 percent bracket that applies to incomes between $120,000 and $180,000.
It will also apply a 30 percent rate on all income between $45,000 and $200,000.
The biggest benefit from the cuts would go to Australians who earn the most and pay the most taxes.
The cuts were laid down in legislation by the previous coalition government. At the time, Mr Albanese argued this in opposition, but ultimately blinked and waved them through.
He later promised to implement tax cuts during the election campaign.
Opposition Treasury spokesman Angus Young slammed the Prime Minister’s “weasel words”.
Opposition Treasury spokesman Angus Taylor slammed the Prime Minister for using “weasel words” to avoid giving an ironclad guarantee.
“We know Labor is not committed to the third tax cut because the Prime Minister and Treasurer told us so. “When the tax cuts were signed into law, they mobilized and voted for amendments to eliminate them,” he said.
‘The Prime Minister is joking by not changing his position, but Labor has broken promises about raising taxes since the day they came to power: raising taxes on franking credits, on Australian companies, on superannuation, on non-governmental schools, and an unprecedented tax on unrealized capital gains.”
The response comes amid reports that Treasurer Jim Chalmers has sought advice from his department on changing the tax cuts.
The last chance to implement the changes is in the May budget
The May budget would be the government’s last chance to make changes to the third phase before it comes into effect.
But any change would be seen as a breach of promise and would open Labor up to a new avenue of attack from the coalition.
With just over a year to go until the next election, Mr Albanese and his frontbench have put the cost of living crisis front and center.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers indicated on Wednesday he is willing to consider what “more we can do” for Aussies struggling to stay ahead of the budget.
“I don’t really want to get into the insourcing or outsourcing of things, but what I can say is that we have demonstrated our ability to roll out this cost of living relief in a way that takes some of the edge off.” of this inflationary crisis. pressure without increasing it,” he said.
‘We have made some progress there. But we understand that people are still under pressure.
“And so if we can do more in the budget in a responsible and affordable way, we will obviously consider that as well.”
