‘Not my question’: Waleed Aly clashes with senator over stage 3 tax cuts

The Project host Waleed Aly had a fiery clash with a politician while discussing the government’s stage 3 tax plan.

The Project host Waleed Aly had a fiery debate with a Nationals Senator during Wednesday night’s episode, calling her out over the Coalition’s promise to undo the government’s stage 3 tax plan.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has courted controversy this week with the news that he will unravel legislated stage 3 tax cuts in a bid to help “middle Australia” during a cost-of-living crisis.

His decision comes after dozens of assurances that Labor’s position on the tax cuts had not changed.

The move has prompted the Coalition – which legislated the tax cuts while in government in 2019, with Labor’s support – to announce that they will restore the tax cuts for higher income earners if they win the next election.

Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie appeared on The Projectlast night to discuss that promise – and copped some curly questions from a sceptical Aly.

“Your Liberal partners have vowed to undo the changes. Undo any changes that Labor makes if you are elected at the next election,” Aly said.

Waleed Aly challenged Senator Bridget McKenzie about the Coalition’s opposal to the PM’s tax cuts.

“Which would mean you will be removing the additional tax cut everybody will be receiving if they earn under $150,000. Are you really going to go to the next election with a tax increase for everybody under $150,000?”

Senator McKenzie claimed that taxes “are always going to lower under a Liberal National Coalition, we know that.”

“It’s not just food and grocery and petrol rents and mortgages that have gone through the roof under Labor, our taxes have gone up 27 per cent as well in the last 18 months,” she continued.

“I can absolutely guarantee we won’t be taking a high-taxing policy to the next election.”

“Not quite my question, though,” Aly interjected. “And the taxes are about to go down, especially for people under $150,000, so they’ll be taxing those people less than would’ve been on your plan.”

At this point, Senator McKenzie attempted to respond to Aly, the pair both talking over the top of each other.

The discussion got heated as the pair spoke over the top of each other.

“Will you be taking their tax cuts away if you win government next time?” he asked.
“We’re absolutely committed to the structural reforms we delivered in government. We believe that sets our tax system up – and Australian workers – for a much better deal over coming decades,” said Senator McKenzie.

“So that’s a yes?” asked Aly. “Sorry to harp on, but I just want to be clear on this: Those people who are on $150,000 or less right now, who stand to get a bigger tax cut than they were expecting, at the next election, your plan is to take that tax cut off them, to increase their tax bill, because you want to revert to the structural reform that was legislated in 2019 – is that right?”

“Waleed … Waleed,” McKenzie began, reiterating that the coalition is “committed to a fairer tax system for all Australian workers” as the interview came to a close.

The PM will address the National Press Club today, and it’s expected a decision about stage 3 tax cuts will be announced then, with a redesign unveiled.

Originally published as ‘Not my question’: Waleed Aly clashes with senator over stage 3 tax cuts