Ashton Hurn accused of policy backflip as Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis blasts stamp duty review
Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis has branded the Liberals a “shambolic rabble” after new leader Ashton Hurn signalled a review of the party’s stamp duty abolition policy.
The man known to many as the Labor party’s “attack dog” has set his sights on new Liberal leader Ashton Hurn, slamming her for her apparent backtrack on the opposition’s policy to abolish stamp duty.
On Tuesday, Ms Hurn said a review would be undertaken of the Liberal’s policy offerings, including the stamp duty policy that has generated uproar from the government since its announcement in November.
Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis, accompanied by a power point presentation, outlined on Wednesday what he thought of the Liberals stamp duty policy, and talk that it could be scrapped.
“It’s now 10 weeks from the next election and the Liberal Party has had four leaders in four years,” he said.
“They have yet to explain how they’re going to fund their signature tax policy.”
Mr Koutsantonis showed a video from Ms Hurn’s Instagram on November 10, in which the then Shadow Health Minister spruiked the stamp duty policy.
“This is not only about making home ownership simpler and more achievable for everyone,” she said in the video.
“It also reflects our goal of being a low tax government that keeps more money in your pocket.”
“How do you replace a significant election policy in 10 weeks?” Mr Koutsantonis said.
“Whenever you formulate policy, it takes time ... that’s why we give oppositions four years to develop policy.
“Ten weeks out, abandoning a signature election policy would be the most shambolic rabble I have ever seen.
“What she needs to do is come out and tell us how they’re going to pay for it.”
Later on Wednesday, Ms Hurn said stamp duty would be “part of the conversation” during the Liberals’ policy review.
“I’m not taking advice from Tom Koutsantonis on managing the economy,” she said.
“This is bread and butter for the Liberal Party, and I think you’ll see a really fantastic suite of policies that will make the lives of families and businesses much better.
“I’d encourage Tom Koutsantonis just to focus on his own knitting and to make sure that the people of our state actually can have lower power bills and can afford Christmas this year.”
Ms Hurn said the Liberal Party would “always have a focus” on lowering taxes and said she had not been involved in the initial development of the stamp duty policy.
“There are other states right across the nation who don’t have stamp duty applying to new homes and existing homes. So why not here in South Australia?”
Mr Koutsantonis said that every state that had abolished stamp duty had replaced it with an annual land or property tax.
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Originally published as Ashton Hurn accused of policy backflip as Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis blasts stamp duty review
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