Anthony Albanese says Labor isn’t considering negative gearing changes as he brushes off ‘liar’ tag
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese insists Labor isn’t considering taking changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax to the next Federal Election, as he was pushed on whether his word could be trusted after the stage three tax cuts broken promise.
Mr Albanese did a blitz of morning television on Thursday to clarify his position on the controversial tax breaks after revelations Treasury was modelling potential changes.
The Prime Minister was yesterday insisting that tweaking the concessions was “not our policy” without explicitly ruling out changes in the future.
Asked explicitly if he was considering pitching reforms to voters at the next Federal Election, Mr Albanese told ABC radio on Thursday: “No, we’re not”.
The Prime Minister hasn’t denied Treasury undertook the modelling but has insisted he didn’t request the work and doesn’t know if Treasurer Jim Chalmers did.
Asked on ABC radio who requested the modelling, Mr Albanese was again evasive.
“Treasury doesn’t need to be directed,” he said.
“They’re not school children with teachers up the front of the class telling them what to do.”
Mr Albanese remains unconvinced that changes negative to gearing won’t reduce housing supply – the main aim of Labor’s $32 billion housing agenda.
“Will it (changing negative gearing) add to supply or will it decrease supply? The figures and research that has been produced by organisations like the Property Council indicate that it would reduce supply and therefore not contribute to solving the issue. And that’s the issue,” he said.
Mr Albanese’s denials about possible changes to negative gearing and capital gains have drawn comparison to his language prior to overhauling the stage three tax cuts in January.
After months of insisting the Government’s position was unchanged, the Prime Minister proceeded to break a key election promise by redesigning tax cuts in favour of middle-to-low-income workers.
In an interview with Sky News, Mr Albanese was pushed on whether he had “lied” or been “deceptive” with his rhetoric.
“Well, if I did so did Peter Dutton because they voted for it,” Mr Albanese said.
Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor said Labor’s answer to the housing crisis was to “start a fight with mum and dad investors in the home”.
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