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ABC News
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Opposition says Labor's indigenous plans 'insufficient'
Opposition leader Susan Ley says the Prime Minister's indigenous funding announcement at the Garma festival was insufficient and won't fix Indigenous disadvantage. But reporter Bridget Brennan says there are also questions about the opposition leader's absence from the annual Arnhem Land event.
ABC News
an hour ago
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ACTU Secretary Sally McManus calls for one property limit on negative gearing tax breaks
The Australian Council of Trade Unions will call for bold reform to negative gearing and the capital gains tax at the government's productivity roundtable this month, proposing the tax breaks be limited to one investment property. Sally McManus, the union's secretary, told ABC's Insiders the current arrangements should continue for five years but after that date "we've got to bite the bullet". "Otherwise, we're just saying 'too bad young people, you're not going to be able to ever own a home'," she said. "Since 2019, the problem has just got worse. It's going to continue to get worse unless the government is brave enough to do something about it." Labor took negative gearing reforms from opposition to the 2016 and 2019 federal elections, at which they were defeated. Ahead of this year's election it emerged that Treasurer Jim Chalmer had asked his department to model the impact of changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions, but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hosed down speculation Labor was planning to scale back the tax breaks. Ms McManus did not divulge whether she believed the government, after its landslide victory earlier this year, would go for the proposal but stressed that the union would "go and argue it". "In the end, the government will make their decisions based on what they think is in the national interest. We would say that it is in the national interest," she said. The ACTU's proposal would raise about $1.5 billion in tax revenue each year, according to Ms McManus, who added that those with investment properties would have time to adjust their portfolios. "Part of the problem is that we've been keeping a whole lot of capital in housing. And it's not those people's fault. They've done that because it has worked for them and they've made smart decisions around that," she said. "But it's also meant that capital is not being invested in areas that are going to increase productivity, like Australian businesses and other ways that it can be invested." Nearly half of all Australian landlords had negatively geared properties, according to figures released in December, that showed the highest earners are hauled in tens of billions of dollars from tax concessions and loopholes. Mr Chalmers has signalled he will use the three-day roundtable to seek new economic reforms, prioritising "consensus" among unions, business and economists. He has said he wants any reform proposals brought to the roundtable to be budget neutral or budget positive. Earlier this week, the Productivity Commission released the first of several reports requested by Mr Chalmers in the lead-up to the roundtable, in which it called for a 20 per cent tax rate on profits for companies with revenue of up to $1 billion. That would represent a significant cut for all but the largest companies from the current rate, which is 25 per cent for companies with turnover under $50 million and 30 per cent for all others. It also called for a new 5 per cent tax on net cashflow rather than profits, which could see some large companies pay a higher rate but would provide immediate tax relief for smaller companies seeking to build their capital.
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Who is George Razay, saxophone playing doctor, opponent of Hobart stadium and new Bass MP?
George Razay wears a lot of hats, but he has just gained one more: Tasmanian state MP. Professor Razay is a long-time doctor, City of Launceston councillor and a clinical professor with the University of Tasmania. He also plays the saxophone in a community band, and attends a local jazz and tap dancing school twice a week. The 69-year-old came in with just 3.5 per cent of first preference votes for the seat of Bass, which election analyst Kevin Bonham said gave Professor Razay the lowest independent winning vote share in Tasmanian history. Professor Razay said the win was unexpected. "That just shows you how the community has supported me all the way … they were the driving force for me continuing to campaign." Professor Razay has spent 27 years working as a geriatrician at the Launceston General Hospital and was elected as a councillor in 2022. "Being in the council has been the best thing for me. It has introduced me to all of the issues that concern the community," he says. He was born in Syria and has lived in Tasmania for 28 years. Professor Razay lives in Launceston with his wife Melissa. He has run in two state and two federal election campaigns, and polled 5 per cent in Bass as an independent in both 2022 and 2025. During this state election, he has campaigned on improving the health, education and housing systems, and against the Macquarie Point stadium proposal in Hobart. "My vision for getting into politics is to turn Tasmania from one of the sickest states in Australia, to one of the most healthy, happy and active communities." He said he has no affiliation with a political party, but described himself as progressive. He said he is proud of this achievement, as he ran the campaign by himself. Dr Bonham said he could not find another professor to have been elected to the Tasmanian parliament, meaning Professor Razay could be the state's first. The finalisation of election results has put the major parties in a difficult position: the Liberals need support from four crossbenchers to remain in power, whereas Labor needs the five Green MPs, plus three other crossbenchers, to form government. Professor Razay said he received calls from politicians on Saturday, but would not say who. "They have respectfully said 'enjoy your day today', and I am looking forward to meeting with them very soon." He said he was open-minded to supporting anybody. "I would like to talk to everyone and I am going to give support to any party who is going to govern, and my goal is to present a stable government in the future," he said. "By working together, we can achieve positive change in our community, and this is my role to work with them to achieve that." When asked whether he would support another no-confidence motion against Jeremy Rockliff, Professor Razay said he wants to have more talks before deciding. "I will talk, listen to the parliamentarians, including the premier, and make my decision afterwards."
