Politics with Michelle Grattan: Angus Taylor on tax and the economy

With the government’s changes to the stage 3 tax cuts to favour lower and middle income earners, and a looming by-election in the Victorian seat of Dunkley, eyes are now on the opposition for its response to Labor’s new package.

In our first podcast of 2024, Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor discusses the tax broken promise, where the economy is heading, falling inflation, and more.

On the government’s tax backflip he says:

I think Labor has shifted to a robbing-Peter-to-pay-Paul mindset now. They clearly believe in zero-sum economics, a zero-sum politics, where you take something from some and give it to another, and that is not acceptable.

On stage 3 itself, Taylor is quick to defend the Coalition version:

Stage 3 tax cuts were tax reform. They are about incentivising people to change their behaviours in positive ways for the economy and for all of us.

On whether the government should be giving further cost-of-living assistance now:

[It] tells us something about how the political culture has changed – which is the idea that if someone gets behind, the only answer is to give them money. Actually, the number one objective here has to be to enable people to get ahead.

Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.