Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have launched their long-term political campaigns leading up to the election: The Prime Minister only wants to talk “Labor’s tax cuts” and the Opposition Leader only wants to talk about anything else.
For Labor, there’s the risk that the political impact of the tax cuts will diminish quickly, which is the Coalition’s hope.
Labor wants to concentrate on tax cuts and all the other measures it says are aimed at cutting the cost of living which failed to cut through in the year of referendum distraction.
The Coalition wants to revert to the pattern of last year when public support for Labor fell during parliamentary sitting weeks. On Monday, it revisited the release of immigration detainees, including seven murderers and 37 sex offenders.
It was also clear that the Greens, as a major combatant in the tax wars, are intent on attacking Labor from the left over rental assistance and seeking to abolish negative gearing tax breaks for property investors “such as the Prime Minister”.
After the excitement in parliament last week over the ALP’s broken promise on the stage three tax cuts, with Labor MPs revved up and cheering Albanese, the first day of the second week was the sober start of Labor’s long campaign through to the election.
All but one of Labor’s questions were on “tax cuts for all Australians”. All the Coalition’s questions were to Immigration Minister Andrew Giles, who would not or could not answer questions about the way the government handled the release of 149 people from immigration detention last year.
There were two sides of parliament but they weren’t listening to each other.
Minister after minister was rolled out to talk about the tax benefits for workers in their areas, from childcare workers to sailors, after Labor questions while only opposition immigration spokesman Dan Tehan asked Coalition questions, and only to Giles.
There was no political engagement as the government and opposition strode down separate paths.
Even the Greens’ attack on “property investor” Albanese was not about the tax cuts but was seeking to change negative gearing over which the Greens and Labor are now at daggers drawn over renters versus investors.
This was the only area of parliamentary question time contrast.
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The first week of parliament started with applause, thumping of desks, theatrics and pumping fists but the second week of 2024 has started with all the sound and excitement of one hand clapping.