Labor’s surprise budget tax cuts for every Australian have been rushed into law, delivering the average worker roughly the equivalent of a cup of coffee a week starting next year.
The move will force the Coalition to either drop its opposition to the $17 billion cuts it termed an “election bribe” or head out on the federal election campaign trail with a pledge to repeal them.
In the meantime, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is reportedly seeking to go head-to-head with Labor on cost of living with a $6 billion cut to fuel excise to be announced in his budget reply speech tonight.
The Senate will be adjourned until May, at which time the election will likely be called. Finance Minister Katy Gallagher utilized this final opportunity to voice her criticism of the opposition.
“We’ve seen tonight what we’ve seen this entire term, those opposite, opposing everything we’re trying to do to help households,” she said.
She highlighted their opposition to gender equality measures in the workplace, their refusal to maintain public ownership of the National Broadband Network (NBN), their rejection of fee-free Technical and Further Education (TAFE), and their denial of tax cuts for all taxpayers.
Dutton delivers his budget reply speech tonight.
