Coalition: Queensland workers thousands of dollars worse off under Labor

Queensland teachers, nurses and midwives could pay thousands more in tax under Labor’s policies, according to new analysis of state wage data by the Coalition.

QUEENSLAND teachers, nurses and midwives could pay thousands more in tax under Labor’s policies, according to new analysis of state wage data.

Public school teachers would be hit with an extra tax bill of $615.06 to $5520.39 in 2024-25 depending on their pay scale under a Bill Shorten-led government, analysis suggests.

Registered nurses working for Queensland Health would be slugged $865.52 to $2337.65 more tax while clinical nurses would pay between $2512.54 and $3247.92 extra. School principals would pay between $4785.76 and $9048.95 in additional tax in 2024-25.

The figures, compiled by the Coalition, use publicly available wage rates and factor in assumed 2 per cent annual increases to estimate salary and tax to be paid in six years’ time.

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All of these workers would pay the same income tax next financial year regardless of whether Labor or the Coalition wins the election.

But the amount of tax paid by middle income workers would increase from July 2022 under Mr Shorten, because Labor has rejected the later stages of the Coalition’s planned tax cuts. In a plan mapped out in the Budget, the Coalition would cut the 32.5 per cent income tax rate to 30 per cent and flatten tax brackets so that everyone earning between $45,000 and $200,000 pays this rate by 2024-25.

By rejecting the Coalition’s plan, Labor says it will pocket an extra $1.05 billion over the forward estimates which it can use to fund higher spending on health and education.

Labor has also promised to cut tax for people earning less than $37,000 by $95 a year.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the analysis showed middle income workers would be better off under the Coalition.

“This is more money to spend as they see fit.”

His Labor counterpart, Chris Bowen, said the Coalition’s plans for future tax cuts in six years time were “on the Never Never” and could not be believed.