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Australia news live: Queensland Labor ahead in Stafford byelection despite large swing
TL;DR
Queensland Labor is leading in the Stafford byelection despite a significant swing against them. Opposition leader Angus Taylor claims Labor's tax indexing plan could cost the budget $250 billion over ten years.
Key points
- Queensland Labor leads in Stafford byelection
- Angus Taylor claims Labor's tax plan could cost $250 billion
- Jim Chalmers calls Taylor's approach irresponsible
- Taylor's proposals could increase national debt significantly
Mentioned in this story
Angus TaylorJim Chalmers
The opposition leader Angus Taylor was on Sky News this morning suggesting Labor’s plan to index tax thresholds might cost the budget as much as $250bn over a decade.
Jim Chalmers, responding to Taylor’s comments on ABC’s Insiders, said Taylor’s proposed budget approach was “irresponsible”.
double quotation markLast time we cut income taxes, Angus Taylor voted against it and said he would repeal it.
Chalmers continued:
double quotation markAngus Taylor would be adding a quarter of a trillion dollars to national debt. That would cost tens of billions of dollars in extra debt interest, because he’s got these uncosted, unfunded, tax announcements that he made in his Budget reply, which was all about trying to stave off One Nation.
Some federal politics for you coming up: we’re expecting to hear the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, speaking on ABC’s Insiders shortly – we’ll bring you that when it happens.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is in Melbourne today and doing a press conference at about the same time as his treasurer is speaking on the telly. We’ll let you know what comes out of that presser too.
The Queensland premier, David Crisafulli, has conceded the inner-northern Brisbane seat of Stafford to Labor after a tight byelection race.
While the final result was not declared on Saturday night and the outcome could come down to postal votes, Crisafulliacknowledged the Liberal National party candidate, Fiona Hammond, was unlikely to win, but claimed his party had received a substantial swing towards it:
double quotation markI do think we’re going to fall agonisingly short, guys. I think we’re going to fall agonisingly short, but boy, oh boy, what an incredible campaign from an incredible, incredible candidate.
With almost 80% of ballots counted on Saturday evening, Labor’s Luke Richmond was ahead by 768 votes on late Saturday night. Labor was likely to retain the seat despite a 4.1% swing against them, chief ABC analyst Casey Briggs said on X:
double quotation markLabor is likely to retain Stafford. There has been a 4.1 per cent swing against Labor with additional postal votes still to be counted. But for the LNP to win from here, those postal votes would need to break very strongly in its favour. That is very unlikely to happen.
Q&A
What did Angus Taylor say about Labor's tax indexing plan?
Angus Taylor suggested that Labor's plan to index tax thresholds might cost the budget as much as $250 billion over a decade.
How did Jim Chalmers respond to Angus Taylor's comments?
Jim Chalmers called Taylor's proposed budget approach 'irresponsible' and criticized his uncosted tax announcements.
What are the potential consequences of Taylor's proposed tax changes?
Taylor's proposals could add a quarter of a trillion dollars to national debt, resulting in tens of billions in extra debt interest.
What is the current status of the Stafford byelection in Queensland?
Labor is currently ahead in the Stafford byelection despite experiencing a large swing against them.
