‘Quit whinging, Anthony Albanese has done the right thing’

Only in Australia could getting extra money turn into such a whinge-fest. Our PM should be celebrated for what he’s done.

OPINION

The Albanese Government’s decision to tweak Stage 3 tax cuts so low income Aussies get more than initially planned seems to have gone down badly with many Australians.

How has every tax payer getting extra money from July 1 made so many people angry? It’s baffling. In my mind everyone should be celebrating.

Only in Australia could people whinge about free money.

While some are aggrieved that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is backing out on an election promise, surely most fair and rational Australians understand that it’s the right thing to do?

Albanese has reduced planned tax cuts for high income earners - but they still get tax cuts. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

Under his original plan for Stage 3 tax cuts, those earning $200,000 would be receiving the biggest benefit and be better off to the tune of more than $9000 a year.

Now it turns out they get are getting less – but they are still getting a really decent bump:

Meanwhile, Aussies earning less than $100,000 are now getting thousands of dollars instead of the planned hundreds.

Which, to me, sounds completely fair, especially during a cost-of-living crisis when some low-income earners are struggling to put food on the table.

But some sections of Aussie society seem to be huffing and puffing about not getting what they believe was promised to them.

Since when did people earning more than $150,000 get the right to cry poor?

A 2022 census found there are one million people in Australia earning more than $3000 a week – so one in 25 Aussies are making more than $156,000.

Australia’s average annual wage is $90,800, so they are earning more than 50 per cent more than many people are surviving on.

I get it, everyone is finding it harder to stay in the black compared to a few years ago. Rent has skyrocketed, mortgage rates have gone up and eating is starting to feel like a luxury. But those earning less than $100,000 are definitely going to be struggling more than the top 4 per cent who are bringing in $150,000 plus.

Those earning more than $150,000 don’t need a massive tax cut, they just need to cut back. Their inability to mismanage a generous salary isn’t the responsibility of the government to prop up. Maybe they can dry those tears while they do their weekly shop at Aldi instead of Harris Farm.

When Mr Albanese made his election promise of Stage 3 tax cuts, the economy looked a lot different and cost-of-living pressures hadn’t taken hold yet.

“It’s to respond to the circumstances which we confront,” said Mr Albanese on Wednesday. “And we know that there’s been considerable coverage about the pressure that is on low and middle-income earners particularly with regard to cost of living.”

It also makes no sense to flood high-income earners with millions more in disposable cash while inflation is still out of control.

Mr Albanese’s biggest mistake in delivering these tax cuts is that it has turned into something of a PR mess. I think a lot of people feel confused about what’s happening and who is getting what. How did giving everyday Australians more money go wrong for Labor? His biggest battle now is to convince Middle Australia that he’s still on their side.

However, what Mr Albanese has done with this supposed ‘backflip’ is reward the Australians who need it most, such as nurses (average wage $79,550), teachers (average wage $93,109 per year), cleaners (average wage $55,000) and supermarket workers (average wage $58,000 per year). All those people we couldn’t function without during Covid, remember?

Riah Matthews is commissioning editor at news.com.au.