The simple tax change Peter Dutton could use to win over young families

Increasing the tax-free threshold by $10,000 for parents for every child they have, delivers a real solution, without the inefficiency of government handouts, writes Brian Marlow.

The Federal Election is just around the corner and Australians are crying out for change.

The Albanese Labor Government is weighed down by a cost-of-living crisis that is crushing families, an economy that is faltering, and a complete failure to project strength and leadership when the country needs it most.

Initially, the election was looking to be called on April 12, but Cyclone Alfred delayed the process. While this may seem like a minor logistical shift, it has had a significant impact on the election dynamics.

The Coalition was building momentum, surging in the polls as voters turned away from Labor’s weak leadership and spiralling economic mismanagement.

But that momentum has stalled, not because Australians have had a change of heart, but because they are waiting with baited breath to see what Peter Dutton and the Coalition will offer them before taking the final step and casting their vote.

Changes to the tax code could easily help young families in a straightforward way by letting them keep more of hteir money. Picture: iStock

There is no doubt that more and more voters want Labor gone. Australians are exhausted by a government that promised stability but has instead delivered uncertainty, rising inflation, skyrocketing mortgages, and endless talk with no meaningful solutions.

The Albanese Government is floundering under the weight of its own failures, yet the Coalition, despite being in the best possible position to win this election, risks wasting its opportunity by being too cautious.

Peter Dutton will have a great opportunity to lay out a different vision in his budget in reply speech next week. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

That’s why what Australian voters need right now is a thymotic leader.

The idea goes back to Plato, who said the “thymos” is the spirited part of the soul that drives honour, courage, and the pursuit of greatness.

A thymotic leader leads with strength and conviction, unafraid to take bold action in the face of adversity.

Unlike Anthony Albanese, who wavers and hesitates, such leaders commands respect, asserts his will, and inspires confidence. They thrive in the face of opposition, rising to the challenge of leadership with a vision that resonates with the people’s deepest desires for security, prosperity, and national strength.

Australians are not looking for a carefully curated, risk-averse campaign. They are looking for real leadership and real solutions.

Peter Dutton has the chance to electrify this election by offering a clear, tangible policy that will make a difference in the lives of struggling families.

Family tax cuts deliver immediate cost of living relief. Increasing the tax-free threshold by $10,000 for parents for every child they have, delivers a real solution, without the inefficiency of government handouts.

Larger families could easily be given larger tax breaks to help with the cost of raising kids. Picture: Richard Dobson

Rather than forcing Australians to rely on temporary, bureaucratic assistance, it simply allows them to keep more of their own money.

It is easy to explain, easy to implement, and exactly the kind of bold policy that would energise families who are already leaning towards the Coalition but need that final push to fully commit.

At a critical time like this, families stand to benefit $1,600 per year for one child, $3,200 for two children, $5,248 for three children, and $8,248 for four children.

As an example, a family with two children would have an effective tax-free threshold of $70,000 before paying a single cent in income tax. This policy represents not just relief, it is transformative for millions of Australians who are struggling under Labor’s economic failures.

Labor will attempt to counter this with the same tired playbook: more government handouts, more spending, more short-term sugar hits that do nothing to address the structural problems facing the economy.

But Australians are over this approach. They do not want to be dependent on the government.

They do not want to be drip-fed assistance while watching their wages shrink and their savings disappear.

They want the freedom to earn, save, and provide for their families without excessive government interference. This policy delivers that freedom.

Peter Dutton has proven himself to be a thymotic leader. From his early days as a Queensland police officer to his role in protecting Australia’s borders, he has repeatedly demonstrated resilience, determination, and the courage to make tough decisions.

But right now, playing it safe will hold him back when this is the exact moment to take bold, decisive action. If he campaigns as the thymotic leader he truly is, voters will rally behind him. This is the opportunity to show Australians that Dutton is not just an alternative to Albanese, but the strong leader they desperately need

The time for caution is over. Peter Dutton has the opportunity to not just win this election, but to win it convincingly, setting the stage for a government that restores economic confidence and gives Australians real hope for the future.

Australians are ready. They just need to see what Peter Dutton will deliver.

Brian Marlow is president of the Australian Taxpayers’ Alliance

Originally published as The simple tax change Peter Dutton could use to win over young families