Sussan Ley claims Australians will pay more tax if ‘Jim Chalmers gets his way’

Sussan Ley says Australians would be hit with higher taxes if “Jim Chalmers gets his way”, vowing tough action after a horror poll.

Sussan Ley says the Coalition will target Labor’s tax agenda, claiming Australians would pay more tax if “Jim Chalmers gets his way”.

Speaking to the Coalition party room on Monday, ahead of the opening of the 48th parliament, the Opposition Leader said the party would “not be judged by the headlines of the day” and instead be judged on “what we offer the Australian people at the next election”.

This follows Sunday night’s NewsPoll that revealed the Coalition’s primary vote fell from 31.8 per cent to 29 per cent, the lowest point in 40 years.

Sussan Ley spoke to Liberal and National members ahead of the parliament’s first sitting fortnight. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman

In her address to the Coalition party room, Ms Ley vowed to “fight them every step of the way” after leaked Treasury advice urged the Treasurer to consider new taxes in order to boost the budget bottom line.

“Now, I haven’t met a single Australian who wants to pay more tax, who thinks they’re paying not enough tax,” she said.

“And what I do know is that every single Australian expects this government to minimise their tax bill, to work hard for them, and to make sure they run a responsible budget with responsible economic management across the country.

“And that’s clearly not going to happen if we let Treasurer Jim Chalmers get his way.”

While Ms Ley said the Coalition was willing to be more co-operative with the government, she dismissed claims from Anthony Albanese that they would “just get out of the way”.

Liberal and National MPs and senators gathered in Canberra ahead of the official start of parliament on Tuesday. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman

“Our job is to represent the millions of Australians who voted for us and the millions who maybe did not but still expect us to be the strongest and best opposition that we can be and we will be,” she said.

Nationals leader David Littleproud accused the Prime Minister of “swanning around the international stage” and forgetting “struggling” Australians.

“The fundamentals have not changed and we do not need to change, but we need to prepare to have that fight,” he said.

“We will agree where we can but where we must we will hold true to our values and beliefs and have the courage to stand up.”