Labor's latest election ‘pitch' is once again ‘Medicare, Medicare, Medicare'
Sky News Senior Political Reporter Trudy McIntosh discusses Labor's latest 'pitch' to voters in the election campaign which is turning out to be 'Medicare' once again.
'The latest pitch, Medicare, Medicare, Medicare, that is how this campaign started, and it is how the prime minister wants to finish,' Ms McIntosh told Sky News host James Morrow.
'Essentially re-badging and upgrading existing services out there.'
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The Advertiser
30 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Lord mayor Ross Kerridge hammered for 'broken' election promise in favour of rate rise
HE promised to "target rate increases to no more than CPI", but independent lord mayor Ross Kerridge has voted in favour of a rate increase more than double the current Consumer Price Index of 2.4 per cent. At this week's council meeting, Labor councillors, who also voted in favour of the rate increase, hammered Cr Kerridge for what they called a "broken" election promise. One of the policies of Cr Kerridge's hard-fought election campaign was to 'keep rents down by keeping rates low', arguing rates had risen "dramatically" by more than CPI in the last decade under Labor and his predecessor, Nuatali Nelmes. On Tuesday night, he voted in favour of a 5.1 per cent rate rise, the maximum allowable under the rate peg set by the state's independent pricing watchdog. Liberal councillors, who made a commitment to freezing rates for the entire four-year term of council, also voted in favour of the rate rise. Labor councillor Peta Winney-Baartz said the move was a "clear breach of trust" with voters. "Let's be honest, this is not what people were promised," she said. "Cr Kerridge repeatedly told the community he would limit rate increases to no more than CPI, and now he's voting for a 5.1 per cent rise. "I supported this budget because it delivers the projects and services our community needs, but unlike Cr Kerridge, I didn't campaign on freezing rates because I know responsible budgeting matters, and I believe in being upfront with the public." Our Newcastle was formed in support of Cr Kerridge and fellow independent councillors Mark Brooker and Peter Gittins ahead of the 2024 council elections. The policy section of the Our Newcastle website commits to 'keeping rents down by keeping rates down', arguing "any increase in rates results in an increase in rent costs". "Keeping rates low will ensure that renters are not punished unfairly. We will target rate increases to no more than CPI to keep cost-of-living increases minimal," the website said. "We intend to target rate increases to the lowest level possible to ensure our residents and businesses are not burdened by excessive rate rises." Cr Kerridge has denied ever claiming he would "freeze" rates and said his promise was to "target" keeping rate rises as low as possible. "I think all of this behaviour, and there must have been at least I think an hour, if not two hours, spent last night in speeches that are performative and really carrying on with the election campaign, and this theme of singing their praises," he said. "They've still effectively got control of the chamber, but they're still hurting, and I feel for their grief, but this is what democracy is, and really, they need to get over it and move on with working together, rather than attack, attack, attack. "It's not impressing anyone." At Tuesday's meeting, Cr Kerridge quoted economist John Maynard Keynes and said, "When times change, I change my mind". "You can take that to the next election," he said. City of Newcastle estimates it will raise about $200 million in rates in 2025/26. HE promised to "target rate increases to no more than CPI", but independent lord mayor Ross Kerridge has voted in favour of a rate increase more than double the current Consumer Price Index of 2.4 per cent. At this week's council meeting, Labor councillors, who also voted in favour of the rate increase, hammered Cr Kerridge for what they called a "broken" election promise. One of the policies of Cr Kerridge's hard-fought election campaign was to 'keep rents down by keeping rates low', arguing rates had risen "dramatically" by more than CPI in the last decade under Labor and his predecessor, Nuatali Nelmes. On Tuesday night, he voted in favour of a 5.1 per cent rate rise, the maximum allowable under the rate peg set by the state's independent pricing watchdog. Liberal councillors, who made a commitment to freezing rates for the entire four-year term of council, also voted in favour of the rate rise. Labor councillor Peta Winney-Baartz said the move was a "clear breach of trust" with voters. "Let's be honest, this is not what people were promised," she said. "Cr Kerridge repeatedly told the community he would limit rate increases to no more than CPI, and now he's voting for a 5.1 per cent rise. "I supported this budget because it delivers the projects and services our community needs, but unlike Cr Kerridge, I didn't campaign on freezing rates because I know responsible budgeting matters, and I believe in being upfront with the public." Our Newcastle was formed in support of Cr Kerridge and fellow independent councillors Mark Brooker and Peter Gittins ahead of the 2024 council elections. The policy section of the Our Newcastle website commits to 'keeping rents down by keeping rates down', arguing "any increase in rates results in an increase in rent costs". "Keeping rates low will ensure that renters are not punished unfairly. We will target rate increases to no more than CPI to keep cost-of-living increases minimal," the website said. "We intend to target rate increases to the lowest level possible to ensure our residents and businesses are not burdened by excessive rate rises." Cr Kerridge has denied ever claiming he would "freeze" rates and said his promise was to "target" keeping rate rises as low as possible. "I think all of this behaviour, and there must have been at least I think an hour, if not two hours, spent last night in speeches that are performative and really carrying on with the election campaign, and this theme of singing their praises," he said. "They've still effectively got control of the chamber, but they're still hurting, and I feel for their grief, but this is what democracy is, and really, they need to get over it and move on with working together, rather than attack, attack, attack. "It's not impressing anyone." At Tuesday's meeting, Cr Kerridge quoted economist John Maynard Keynes and said, "When times change, I change my mind". "You can take that to the next election," he said. City of Newcastle estimates it will raise about $200 million in rates in 2025/26. HE promised to "target rate increases to no more than CPI", but independent lord mayor Ross Kerridge has voted in favour of a rate increase more than double the current Consumer Price Index of 2.4 per cent. At this week's council meeting, Labor councillors, who also voted in favour of the rate increase, hammered Cr Kerridge for what they called a "broken" election promise. One of the policies of Cr Kerridge's hard-fought election campaign was to 'keep rents down by keeping rates low', arguing rates had risen "dramatically" by more than CPI in the last decade under Labor and his predecessor, Nuatali Nelmes. On Tuesday night, he voted in favour of a 5.1 per cent rate rise, the maximum allowable under the rate peg set by the state's independent pricing watchdog. Liberal councillors, who made a commitment to freezing rates for the entire four-year term of council, also voted in favour of the rate rise. Labor councillor Peta Winney-Baartz said the move was a "clear breach of trust" with voters. "Let's be honest, this is not what people were promised," she said. "Cr Kerridge repeatedly told the community he would limit rate increases to no more than CPI, and now he's voting for a 5.1 per cent rise. "I supported this budget because it delivers the projects and services our community needs, but unlike Cr Kerridge, I didn't campaign on freezing rates because I know responsible budgeting matters, and I believe in being upfront with the public." Our Newcastle was formed in support of Cr Kerridge and fellow independent councillors Mark Brooker and Peter Gittins ahead of the 2024 council elections. The policy section of the Our Newcastle website commits to 'keeping rents down by keeping rates down', arguing "any increase in rates results in an increase in rent costs". "Keeping rates low will ensure that renters are not punished unfairly. We will target rate increases to no more than CPI to keep cost-of-living increases minimal," the website said. "We intend to target rate increases to the lowest level possible to ensure our residents and businesses are not burdened by excessive rate rises." Cr Kerridge has denied ever claiming he would "freeze" rates and said his promise was to "target" keeping rate rises as low as possible. "I think all of this behaviour, and there must have been at least I think an hour, if not two hours, spent last night in speeches that are performative and really carrying on with the election campaign, and this theme of singing their praises," he said. "They've still effectively got control of the chamber, but they're still hurting, and I feel for their grief, but this is what democracy is, and really, they need to get over it and move on with working together, rather than attack, attack, attack. "It's not impressing anyone." At Tuesday's meeting, Cr Kerridge quoted economist John Maynard Keynes and said, "When times change, I change my mind". "You can take that to the next election," he said. City of Newcastle estimates it will raise about $200 million in rates in 2025/26. HE promised to "target rate increases to no more than CPI", but independent lord mayor Ross Kerridge has voted in favour of a rate increase more than double the current Consumer Price Index of 2.4 per cent. At this week's council meeting, Labor councillors, who also voted in favour of the rate increase, hammered Cr Kerridge for what they called a "broken" election promise. One of the policies of Cr Kerridge's hard-fought election campaign was to 'keep rents down by keeping rates low', arguing rates had risen "dramatically" by more than CPI in the last decade under Labor and his predecessor, Nuatali Nelmes. On Tuesday night, he voted in favour of a 5.1 per cent rate rise, the maximum allowable under the rate peg set by the state's independent pricing watchdog. Liberal councillors, who made a commitment to freezing rates for the entire four-year term of council, also voted in favour of the rate rise. Labor councillor Peta Winney-Baartz said the move was a "clear breach of trust" with voters. "Let's be honest, this is not what people were promised," she said. "Cr Kerridge repeatedly told the community he would limit rate increases to no more than CPI, and now he's voting for a 5.1 per cent rise. "I supported this budget because it delivers the projects and services our community needs, but unlike Cr Kerridge, I didn't campaign on freezing rates because I know responsible budgeting matters, and I believe in being upfront with the public." Our Newcastle was formed in support of Cr Kerridge and fellow independent councillors Mark Brooker and Peter Gittins ahead of the 2024 council elections. The policy section of the Our Newcastle website commits to 'keeping rents down by keeping rates down', arguing "any increase in rates results in an increase in rent costs". "Keeping rates low will ensure that renters are not punished unfairly. We will target rate increases to no more than CPI to keep cost-of-living increases minimal," the website said. "We intend to target rate increases to the lowest level possible to ensure our residents and businesses are not burdened by excessive rate rises." Cr Kerridge has denied ever claiming he would "freeze" rates and said his promise was to "target" keeping rate rises as low as possible. "I think all of this behaviour, and there must have been at least I think an hour, if not two hours, spent last night in speeches that are performative and really carrying on with the election campaign, and this theme of singing their praises," he said. "They've still effectively got control of the chamber, but they're still hurting, and I feel for their grief, but this is what democracy is, and really, they need to get over it and move on with working together, rather than attack, attack, attack. "It's not impressing anyone." At Tuesday's meeting, Cr Kerridge quoted economist John Maynard Keynes and said, "When times change, I change my mind". "You can take that to the next election," he said. City of Newcastle estimates it will raise about $200 million in rates in 2025/26.
Perth Now
30 minutes ago
- Perth Now
‘Higher taxes': Fear after Labor flags reforms
The opposition says it is open to working with Labor on tax reforms but is warning against putting further pressure on Australians. Jim Chalmers used a major speech on Wednesday to flag the Albanese government was looking at reforms beyond its proposal to roll back concessions on ultra-high super accounts. The Treasurer said a rethink was needed to address revenue challenges posed by an ageing population and the transition to net zero. Mr Chalmers also said it would be on the agenda at the upcoming roundtable on productivity, which measures how efficiently labour can produce goods and services. Treasurer Jim Chalmers has flagged broader tax reforms beyond Labor's proposal to roll back concessions on ultra-high super balances. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia Opposition finance spokesman James Paterson has welcomed 'the government's recognition that we have a productivity crisis' and said roundtable 'is a good first step'. 'But we need more than just a meeting,' Senator Paterson told Sky News on Thursday. 'We need a plan of action to come out of it.' In his speech, Mr Chalmers said reforms would open opportunities for tax breaks for some but warned there would be 'trade-offs' that could leave some paying more. Opposition finance spokesman James Paterson says he is 'concerned' Labor is pushing for higher taxes. Jason Edwards / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia 'I am concerned that the Treasurer is possibly preparing the ground here for higher taxes and in the middle of a productivity crisis, and particularly in the middle of a business investment crisis, which is at decade lows, the last thing the Australian economy needs right now is higher taxes,' Senator Paterson said. 'We are up for a conversation with the government, to work with them constructively to make our tax system more efficient, to collect revenue and revenues in ways that are less distortionary, but we are not going to give them a blank cheque to increase taxes on Australians at the worst possible time for our economy.'
News.com.au
38 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Opposition open to tax reform, warns against hiking pressure on Australians
The opposition says it is open to working with Labor on tax reforms but is warning against putting further pressure on Australians. Jim Chalmers used a major speech on Wednesday to flag the Albanese government was looking at reforms beyond its proposal to roll back concessions on ultra-high super accounts. The Treasurer said a rethink was needed to address revenue challenges posed by an ageing population and the transition to net zero. Mr Chalmers also said it would be on the agenda at the upcoming roundtable on productivity, which measures how efficiently labour can produce goods and services. Opposition finance spokesman James Paterson has welcomed 'the government's recognition that we have a productivity crisis' and said roundtable 'is a good first step'. 'But we need more than just a meeting,' Senator Paterson told Sky News on Thursday. 'We need a plan of action to come out of it.' In his speech, Mr Chalmers said reforms would open opportunities for tax breaks for some but warned there would be 'trade-offs' that could leave some paying more. 'I am concerned that the Treasurer is possibly preparing the ground here for higher taxes and in the middle of a productivity crisis, and particularly in the middle of a business investment crisis, which is at decade lows, the last thing the Australian economy needs right now is higher taxes,' Senator Paterson said. 'We are up for a conversation with the government, to work with them constructively to make our tax system more efficient, to collect revenue and revenues in ways that are less distortionary, but we are not going to give them a blank cheque to increase taxes on Australians at the worst possible time for our economy.'
