Coalition’s taxation, small business promises could be real next month

SOME of the Federal Government’s headline taxation and small business measures could be implemented within the next month with Prime Minister Scott Morrison expected to recall the new parliament in June to pass key Budget commitments.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is expected to recall the new parliament in June to pass key Budget commitments. Picture: AAP

SOME of the Federal Government’s headline taxation and small business measures could be implemented within the next month with Prime Minister Scott Morrison expected to recall the new parliament in June to pass key Budget commitments.

The Coalition campaigned heavily on its promised tax cuts and popular small business concessions, helping deliver a stunning, against-all-odds election victory for the Government with an expected majority in the lower house alongside bolstered numbers in the Senate.

Counting is continuing in a number of seats where results have been too close to call, holding up any announcements on the new Morrison Cabinet and broader ministry which are not expected this week. Coalition sources said business tax measures would be among be the first items for the returning Government, which will need to be sworn in quickly to vote on crucial appropriations legislation before July 1 and the traditional winter recess.

A review of water trading arrangements in the southern Murray-Darling Basin is also expected to be one of the first action items for Queensland Nationals MP David Littleproud who is also expected to hold onto the water and agriculture portfolios.

If a lower house majority is secured and the influence of the crossbench diminished, as now predicted, there is less chance of political pressure on the Government to change its stance or negotiate on a number of crucial rural issues which dominated the final sitting weeks last year, in particular a ban on live exports or reviews of the contentious Murray-Darling Basin plan. However a swing to The Greens of more than 2.5 per cent will see the party play a significant role in the Senate, with up to nine Greens senators expected in the next upper house.

The Prime Minister has already indicated there would be little change to senior Cabinet positions, however a number of vacancies created by the retirement of several former frontbenchers will create openings.

The final electoral count will also feed into the mechanics of a renewed Coalition agreement between the Liberal and National parties, which will also affect the new-look ministry.

The Nationals held its 16 lower house seats and will be insisting it keeps all four of the Cabinet spots it occupied in the previous government.