Scott Morrison’s tax cuts victory puts Labor on the back foot
On what is essentially the first fair dinkum day of the new parliamentary term Scott Morrison is on the verge of a significant victory and the ALP is left on the back foot.
The Prime Minister has secured the four crossbench votes it needs to pass its $158 billion tax cut package in a deal that secures a key election promise.
As at this morning, Labor is looking rudderless.
Despite the announcements from the two Centre Alliance Senators and Jacqui Lambie, Opposition Treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers could only say that the ALP will be moving its amendments and if they are defeated, the shadow cabinet will form a final position on the entire package.
Labor has backed the first phase of the plan which will hand $1080 to low and middle income earners and called for the second tranche to be brought forward to stimulate the economy. It does not support legislating the third phase.
Its amendments will put this position to parliament, which has allowed Anthony Albanese to argue Labor is the only party backing tax cuts for all workers.
But these amendments will fail, the independents will back the government and Scott Morrison’s original package will pass.
The takeout will be that the government has delivered tax cuts with the help of crossbench Senators and Labor didn’t back it.
That’s game, set and match to the government on the first big political skirmish of the new parliament. You can bet Morrison will be hammering home this message this afternoon when he faces off against Albanese in the first Question Time since the election.
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