Australians face a ‘binary choice’ as One Nation soars, says Jim Chalmers

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has addressed One Nation’s surge in popularity saying Pauline Hanson’s party is capitalising on Australians feeling disconnected due to economic pressure.

“The pace of change in our economy and in our society is accelerating and the global pressures are intensifying and I think people have got legitimate concerns about where they fit in that story,” Mr Chalmers told 7.30

Pressed on why voters were turning to One Nation despite the government’s emphasis on its cost-of-living relief measures, Mr Chalmers said people were still under pressure and expressing that “in political terms”.

He says there is a “binary choice” in Australian politics.

“The right-wing parties, One Nation, the National Party and the Liberal Party, they seek to capitalise on that sense of disconnection that people are legitimately feeling, whereas we’re trying to address it,” he said.

Mr Chalmers also took aim at One Nation’ leader Pauline Hanson’s ties to billionaire Gina Rinehart.

On Thursday, Senator Hanson said she takes advice from Ms Rinehart but the mining magnate has not changed her political vision.

The Treasurer also said One Nation does not represent working people’s best interests.

“One Nation votes directly against the interests of people who battle in our economy,” Mr Chalmers said. 

“She always votes, One Nation always votes to make life harder for people.”

Chalmers on ‘top of the ladder’ Taylor

Addressing a Labor party policy forum in Sydney on Thursday, Mr Chalmers defended the government’s housing tax reforms and said Opposition Leader Angus Taylor did not understand the issues facing young people trying to get into the market.

“Not everybody is born already at the top of the ladder like Angus Taylor was,” Mr Chalmers said.

Speaking on 7.30, Mr Chalmers denied he had an issue with wealthy Australians. 

“Not at all. I want more people to succeed in our economy,” he said. 

“A lot of people are finding it hard to get a toehold in a very difficult housing market.”

The Treasurer argued the Opposition Leader was fighting to preserve a “broken” system.

“We are fixing and addressing that status quo and that comes with political costs.”

Labor to stay the course on tax reform

Next week, a two-day Senate inquiry will scrutinise the government’s proposed changes to negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount. The latter has caused furore amongst business leaders and investors who claim reducing the CGT discount will stifle investment.

The treasurer said the Albanese government had anticipated a strong reaction.

“We understand that people have done very well out of the current arrangements,” he told 7.30. 

“Obviously we expected and anticipated that some people would prefer things to stay exactly as they are.”

Pressed on whether Labor would stick with the tax changes rather than backing down, Mr Chalmers said: “Yes.”

He added that the government will publish a consultation paper on which categories of business will be exempted from the new CGT regime.

Another aspect of the economy the government is being forced to address is ongoing cost-of-living pressures, especially as the Iran war drags on.

The government’s temporary cut to the fuel excise is due to expire at the end of the month but Mr Chalmers said no decision had been taken on further relief at the petrol bowser

“We haven’t budgeted to extend that, but we’ve been up-front with people and said really on a week-to-week basis that we review the arrangements for that,” he said. 

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