There is a simple way for a prime minister to break an election promise: ask for permission.
Albanese and the Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, would have to go to voters with a compelling argument about why the cuts at the top end of the income scale should be stopped or reduced.The timing of stage three does not make this easy because the cuts begin in July 2024 and the next election could be held as late as May 2025. This is not an argument for an early election but the nightmare timing is Labor’s own fault.
The debate over the past week is not a reliable guide to how the politics would play out. The argument about stage three has been fairly low-level in recent days, spoken about by politicians, journalists and economists but barely heard by most voters. This is not a simple scenario where Labor can play to its base. After all, its base is only 77 out of 151 seats. Labor needs to win voters from the Liberals to be safe.What happened here is no mystery and no cause for sympathy. Labor was wedged at the last election and has to live with the consequences. The Liberals designed a tax package to help workers on higher incomes and Albanese and Chalmers chose to support the package rather than risk an election fight.
CroweDM My guess is that it will not go ahead. He’s just following procedures.
CroweDM All I hear is rich people making a big deal out of this.
CroweDM Gosh yes. The people would just love another election just so we can tell politicians, who get paid over $200K, to do their f’ing job. 🙄
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CroweDM Tax cut is due in 2024 which is a long time in current economic climate when things are changing daily. Why the govt not sit out for another 7/8 months before making a decision?
CroweDM Agree with this. Or as a compromise, defer the start of the tax cuts until after the next election and include it as an explicit campaign promise to repeal or amend them.
CroweDM Another referendum?
CroweDM He can afford to play the long game here….he doesn’t have to die on this hill….right now
CroweDM You’ll have to go a lot harder than that Dave
CroweDM With so much going on in the world all we hear about is tax cuts due in 2024. Is this all the opposition and also the media have got to report? What about concentrating on all the serious issues happening right now.
CroweDM Is he preparing to leave at the end of his term of office, perhaps earlier?
CroweDM So many opinions with an obvious as dogs RW agenda…
CroweDM And most people will say... 'If a politician is going to break a promise, it may as well be dropping the last government's plan to give tax breaks to the rich...' And the 'Ayes' have it.
CroweDM Yes. He can call an election. If he’s not prepared to do this, he should stick to the promise.
CroweDM Flogging a dead horse David. Let it go.