Australian Prime Minister Albany said elections are “about” when the government is rushing to pass a tax cut bill
By Renju Jose
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday he planned to hold elections “immediately” as his center-left government is eager to pass parliament, a new tax cut to boost support and win voters who have won aggred.
The three-year term limit means Australia will need to take a poll before at least May 17 to elect a new parliament. Public opinion surveys show that before labor, the opposition Free National League had a narrow range of close elections.
Arbanes told TripleM.
“I’m not on the phone today, but I’ll call it as soon as possible. I think Australians want to keep going.”
The Albanian-led Labor government has been announcing a range of measures aimed at making families and businesses struggle to fight high costs as they strive to win the second semester.
In Tuesday’s federal budget, the government surprisingly launched two rounds of tax cuts worth $17.1 billion ($10.7 billion). This means that workers’ average income can receive a new tax relief of $268 in the fiscal year ending June 2027, compared to $536 in the second year, although it is moderate than the $1,654 relief introduced this fiscal year.
The tax cut bill was introduced Wednesday morning in the House of Commons and was cleared in a late night in the Senate – with the help of the Greens and independents, the Senate had no labor.
The opposition Free National League said it would repeal the bill if elected to take office, replacing its plan to cut fuel excise tax by half for one year.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton called it “real, immediate relief” and saved $750 a year for families. But treasurer Jim Chalmers believes the opposition’s plans will only provide limited relief, and Australians will get worse.
Chalmers told reporters: “This decision will bother them every day.
($1 = AUD 1.5924)
(Reported by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editor of Lincoln Feast.)
