A Greens MP who has built a reputation for getting under Anthony Albanese’s skin has called for a drastic overhaul of the government’s proposed phase three tax cuts.
Max Chandler-Mather asked voters Monday whether they would prefer to have Medicare cover dental care or give high-income earners a tax cut, as Albanese’s government is offering.
Under Labour’s new plan, high-income earners earning more than $200,000 will get a tax cut of $4,529 compared to what they currently pay – just $4,549 less than the $9,075 initially proposed by the Morrison government.
Albanese will need the support of the Greens and two independents to pass the policy through the Senate.
Max Chandler-Mather asked voters a question Monday morning, asking whether they would prefer to include dental care in Medicare or if high-income earners would get a tax cut.
Leader Adam Bandt suggested the government can secure his support by providing more aid to low- and middle-income people and increasing prosperity
But the Greens have already indicated they will try to crack down on Labor in return for their support.
Leader Adam Bandt suggested the government can secure his support by providing more aid to low- and middle-income people and increasing prosperity.
And Mr Chandler-Mather – the Greens’ young housing representative who has developed a penchant for getting under the Prime Minister’s skin – had a very different idea.
‘What would you choose? 1) Bring dental care into Medicare so everyone can go to the dentist for free, or 2) Give $84 billion to people who make more than $200 to $4,500 a year in tax cuts,” he asked.
‘Labour opted for tax cuts for politicians and billionaires. I think the public prefers free dental care.”
Mr Chandler-Mather said he had knocked on the doors of his local community in Brisbane, arguing that “without a doubt, even people earning over $200,000 are choosing Medicare for the dentist.”
Mr Chandler-Mather – the Greens’ young housing representative who has developed a penchant for getting under the Prime Minister’s skin – had a very different idea
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has tinkered with the Morrison-era tax cuts, taking up to $4,000 from people earning more than $200,000, to ensure all taxpayers get some reprieve.
‘“Labour’s changes to the third stage of tax cuts will still see the budget lose over $300 billion and make it even harder to get things like free dentists,” he said.
Any further changes to tax cuts at the expense of high incomes would likely not be well received by this target group.
The Prime Minister has already reneged on an election promise he made no fewer than 36 times to deliver on Scott Morrison’s tax cuts.
But Mr Albanese has balanced this by saying that under his tightened policy, every taxpayer will now receive a tax cut. Taking what’s left of the tax cuts for high earners would further damage his reputation as he tries to restore the image of a trustworthy “man of his word” in the eyes of voters.
Only 3.4 percent of voters earn more than $180,000 — and they are the people who will suffer the most from Mr. Albanese’s backflip.
A worker with $100,000 in income would have received $1,375 in additional tax time under the original plan. Now they take home almost double that: $2,179.
And people earning $45,000 — who would have taken nothing home under last month’s policy — will now be $805 better off in July.
The benefits are starting to emerge for voters making $150,000 or less. On that salary, a person would have received a $3,975 tax cut under the original legislation. Now they’ll take home $3,739 instead.
For people with an income of $180,000, the reimbursement is significantly lower: from $6,075 to $3,729.