NATALIE BARR:
Joining me now is Treasurer Jim Chalmers. Good morning to you. You must be happy – the majority of voters support your changes.
JIM CHALMERS:
Good morning, Nat. Look, it was already clear to us moving around the country over the course of the last week and a half that there is a lot of encouragement and a lot of support for Labor’s cost‑of‑living tax cut for middle Australia. People know that we’re trying to do the right thing by them. We’re trying to give a bigger tax cut to more people to help with these cost‑of‑living pressures and at the end of the day, this is not about the politics of polls or punditry, it’s about a tangible benefit for people. Everyone, every taxpayer, will get a tax cut. There’s a bigger emphasis on middle Australia and that’s because we understand the pressures that people are under and we’re trying to do something about it and I think people understand and recognise that and are encouraging us to do that.
BARR:
Gee, did you think breaking a promise could go so well?
CHALMERS:
I think people understand that if you find a better way to deliver cost‑of‑living help, then you’ve got a responsibility to do that. I think there is a recognition that this at the end of the day is not about the political argy‑bargy, it’s not about commentators, it’s not about the Opposition; it’s about a government which is trying to give a bigger tax cut to more people to help with the cost of living – that’s what we are trying to do and that’s what matters most people to people. I think we can get caught up in the political debate here in Canberra too frequently. What really matters – and what matters to you, Nat, and to your viewers – is that we do what we can to help people. People are doing it tough. We don’t just acknowledge that; we’re trying to do something about it.
BARR:
Seeing as this has worked so well, is that going to spur you on to break more promises?
CHALMERS:
No, I don’t see it that way, Nat. This is all about it becoming increasingly clear that we needed to provide more cost‑of‑living help. We needed to do it in a bigger and broader way but without adding to inflationary pressures in our economy. We found a good way to do that, a much, much better way to deliver this tax relief so that more people benefit and that’s what we’ve done here, and I think that’s what people are recognising.
BARR:
So did you expect a bigger bump? Because looking at the figures, yes, they support the changes, but there’s been no political benefit – two‑party preferred, the same; the Prime Minister’s approval rating exactly the same as last year. Did you expect a bit of a bump?
CHALMERS:
I thought this was going to be real contentious, to be honest with you, Nat. I wasn’t sure what it would mean for the opinion polls because the opinion polls are secondary to getting a right outcome –
BARR:
Are they? Isn’t that one of the reasons why you would have done this?
CHALMERS:
No, Nat –
BARR:
Because of last year and last year didn’t go too well?
CHALMERS:
No, Nat. This is all about getting more help to more people who are under cost‑of‑living pressure. We knew it would be politically contentious. We knew that the Opposition would oppose us in one way or another but we did it anyway. This is not about polls; this is about doing the right thing for the right reasons and putting people front and centre. The polls and the pundits and the commentators will take care of themselves.
BARR:
What deals will you do? What compromises will you do to get this through?
CHALMERS:
We want to see the package that we announced pass the Parliament, and it would be strange, indeed, I think for parties of any political persuasion to stand in the way of bigger tax cuts for more people and a tax cut for every Australian taxpayer. So I call on the Coalition in particular – they have the legislation, they have the detail, they have no more excuses –
BARR:
They’ll want something, though.
CHALMERS:
I say to parties of all political persuasions in the House of Representatives and the Senate and I say to the independents – don’t stand in the way of a bigger tax cut for more people which delivers cost‑of‑living help in a way that every taxpayer gets a tax cut right up and down the income scale.
BARR:
Okay, there’s a report out this morning that Anthony Albanese is annoyed to be taking the fall for you over this broken promise. How’s your relationship with the PM?
CHALMERS:
Very close. Very close and effective working relationship. We’re good mates. We had dinner last night, we had breakfast at the Lodge not that long ago, we speak on an almost daily basis. I’ve seen those stories – they are absolute rubbish.
BARR:
Is he a bit mad, though? It’s like because he’s out there sort of, you know, my word is my bond thing keeps being brought up.
CHALMERS:
No, he’s not. I pay tribute to the Prime Minister for the leadership that he has shown here. He’s put people before politics. He’s done something meaningful and tangible to help people with the cost of living and that’s what matters, and we work together very closely on that, very effectively on that.
We are good mates and we have a good, effective working relationship as well. I’ve seen those stories – they are wrong, completely wrong. They are absolute rubbish.
BARR:
Okay. Buddies for life, hey? Thank you very much, Jim. Appreciate your time this morning.
CHALMERS:
Thanks, Nat. All the best.