Scott Morrison makes major election tax promise
The prime minister has dropped a pre-election tax sweetener while also taking a jab at Labor over its proposed scheme.
Federal Election
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison has promised no new taxes for the next four years if his government is re-elected.
The Lower Tax Guarantee is being delivered in conjunction with an “iron glad guarantee” that the planned $100 billion in tax relief will be delivered to Australian workers over the next term of parliament.
Mr Morrison claims Anthony Albanese and the Labor Party cannot provide Australians with the same guarantee while they continue to put a “speed limit” on their tax plan.
“Lower taxes are at the heart of our economic plan for a stronger economy and stronger future,” the Prime Minister said.
“Today I give the Australian people my Government’s Lower Tax Guarantee.
“I also guarantee that we will deliver $100 billion in tax relief over the next four years, providing Australians with certainty and helping to deliver a stronger economy.”
Mr Morrison said there was a “clear choice” at the coming election, claiming a vote for Labor means “higher taxes with real consequences on your mortgage repayments, grocery bill and household budget”.
“Labor has left the door wide open to introducing new taxes or higher taxes to pay for their spending initiatives, while they refuse to guarantee a tax speed limit,” he said.
Under the Lower Tax Guarantee, the Morrison government has promised no new taxes on Australian workers, retirees, superannuation, small business, housing, and electricity.
The government has promised to keep taxes below 23.9 per cent of GDP.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg lashed out at Mr Albanese, accusing him of arguing for higher taxes throughout his political career.
“Without a speed limit on taxes, our legislated tax cuts will not be safe under a Labor Government led by Mr Albanese, who has called them ‘tax cuts for the top end of town’ and ‘unfair tax cuts’”, the Treasurer said.
“This position is echoed by the Greens, making it abundantly clear that under a Labor-Greens alliance Australian workers and small businesses can never be certain of benefiting from lower taxes.”
Mr Frydenberg went on to claim the reason Labor wants more taxes is because they “can’t manage money”.
“When they run out of money they come after yours,” he said.
“Whether it’s wasting $6 billion to pay people to get the jab, even though they’ve already had it, or running JobKeeper longer than necessary, Labor have shown they can’t manage money,” he said.
Finance Minister Simon Birmingham backed up these comments, saying now was not the time to risk higher taxes.
Originally published as Scott Morrison makes major election tax promise
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