Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has attacked the Albanese government’s latest budget, labelling it a “cruel hoax”, as pressure mounts for him to deliver his own agenda ahead of the election.
Senior opposition figures have confirmed Mr Dutton will respond to the tax cuts in his budget reply but remained vague on the details.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down his fourth federal budget on Tuesday night, promising $17 billion worth of tax cuts starting from July 2026.
But for millions of working Australians feeling the pinch, the so-called “biggest part” of the budget amounts to just $5 per week.
Mr Dutton rejected the government’s tax plan on Wednesday and told Sky News the budget was inadequate in addressing cost of living pressures faced by households.
“They have wrecked the economy. They’ve got this cruel hoax out there at the moment that they’re going to, in 15 months’ time, offer a tax cut of 70 cents a day,” Mr Dutton said.
“This budget is about trying to win the next election, trying to bribe people with a 70-cent-a-day tax cut in 15 months’ time.”
The Albanese government moved to pass the tax cut legislation before Mr Dutton had his chance to reply in a bid to wedge the opposition on the issue.
The tax cuts legislation bill passed through the lower house with support from The Greens and will be introduced to the Senate.
After the opposition announced it would oppose the $5-per-week tax cuts, Mr Chalmers accused Mr Dutton of failing to support cost of living relief.
“They have opposed our cost of living relief at almost every turn and, true to form, they’re doing it again,” Mr Chalmers told Sky News.
The opposition has left the door open to offerng more generous tax cuts and told voters to pay attention to Mr Dutton’s budget reply on Thursday evening.
“I’ll provide my response on Thursday night,” Mr Dutton said, when asked repeatedly whether he would deliver his own tax cuts.
Meanwhile, the Albanese government has sought to justify its “responsible” economic management, saying the budget balances cost of living relief with inflation challenges.
The government’s forecasts, however, have not projected a return to budget surplus until at least 2035, as Mr Dutton questioned whether Labor could deliver on that timeline.
“Liberal governments manage the economy more effectively,” he said.
“When John Howard came into government in 1996, he had to clean up a massive Labor debt and an economy that was in free fall.
“That is what is happening again now and we will clean up Labor’s mess.”
