Anthony Albanese‘s government is seriously considering a bold economic plan he previously rejected, which will send shivers down the spine of Aussie homeowners.
Then Labor leader Bill Shorten’s plan to get rid of negative gearing contributed to him losing the ‘unloseable election’ to Scott Morrison in 2019.
When Mr Albanese took over Labor’s reins after that loss he said changes to negative gearing – reducing the tax of a homeowner if the rent they get from a property doesn’t cover their mortgage and other expenses – was off the table.
But now it could be back on Labor’s agenda for the federal election that is due to be held by next May.
Nine newspapers confirmed that the Government has asked for modelling on the potential change to negative gearing to be carried out.
In interviews last week, Mr Albanese was asked repeatedly if Labor would consider changes to negative gearing, and at no point did he rule it out.
‘I don’t answer those sorts of questions,’ he said on ABC Radio National last Thursday.
But two days before that, he referred to a claim from the Property Council of Australia that changing negative gearing would hurt housing supply.
Anthony Albanese’s (pictured) government is seriously considering a bold economic plan he previously rejected, which will send shivers down the spine of Aussie homeowners
When Mr Albanese took over Labor’s reins after that loss he said changes to negative gearing was off the table. Stock image
‘So that is one of the reasons why we’re very cautious about that,’ he told ABC Radio Sydney.
Being ‘cautious’ is not ruling something out, though, and one Labor official said ‘This is what Labor needs and wants – they need to have a fight on policies that shows what they stand for’.
‘It’s in the values frame. This is why Albo was reticent about ruling it out the other day. Look at what Albo has said, he has not knocked it on the head.
‘This will give the government something big and positive to talk about, it will be a major talking point in the campaign.’