Overview
- Opposition Leader Angus Taylor rejected Andrew Hastie’s push to keep an open mind on Labor revenue plans, arguing higher taxes would mean fewer houses, less gas, and less oil.
- The Labor options in play include removing property tax breaks and adding a windfall tax on gas producers, which Taylor says would choke supply and hurt the economy.
- Hastie urged a humbler stance after recent election losses and said he would assess the government’s fuel powers bill in principle to help firms secure costly fuel shipments.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese cited Hastie’s comments in question time to paint the Coalition as split while defending the government’s response to the fuel crunch.
- The dispute stirred talk of Hastie as a future rival to Taylor after Taylor won the leadership in February, though no policy shift or leadership move has been launched.