Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has used some Gen Z slang in parliament to criticize the opposition as his government’s proposed $17.1 billion tax cuts successfully passed the lower house.
The federal Labor government aims to legislate two per cent tax cuts over two years for all taxpayers, a measure announced in last night’s federal budget, but the Coalition has vowed to oppose it.
Albanese promoted the legislation in the House of Representatives this morning while attacking Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s nuclear power proposal.
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“That’s the most expensive form of new energy possible sometime in the 2040s and a plan that the private sector won’t ever back, which is why it has to be funded by the taxpayer, necessitating cuts to education, services, housing, and public servants, or cuts across the board,” he stated.
“The only cut [Dutton] doesn’t want is a cut to people’s taxes.”
Continuing his criticism of the opposition’s pre-election policies, Albanese remarked: “Well, Mr Speaker, they are delulu with no solulu.”
To clarify, the prime minister is indicating that the Coalition is “delusional with no solution”.
The term “delulu” gained popularity among Gen Z and TikTok, peaking in Australia in September 2023, according to Google Trends.
Albanese’s remarks elicited laughter from his own side while facing shouts from the opposition.
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Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor stated last night that the Coalition would oppose the tax cuts, subsequently voting against the legislation when it was presented in the lower house.
The bill passed the House of Representatives, providing the government an opportunity to criticize the opposition for rejecting tax cuts with an election approaching.
“To vote against this legislation would be to stand against the cost-of-living relief that Australians need and deserve,” Treasurer Jim Chalmers expressed, while Albanese took to social media stating: “NEWS: Peter Dutton and the Liberals just voted against giving you more tax cuts.”
https://x.com/AlboMP/status/1904699056238322009
The tax cuts are now set to go before the Senate.
While the government revealed their policies last night, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton plans to deliver his official response speech tomorrow night to outline his party’s commitment to “lower, simpler, fairer taxes” if elected.
“We’ll have the budget in reply response on Thursday, as you point out, and we’ll save our details for then,” he informed 9news.
Dutton confirmed that priorities for his potential government would include cost of living relief, home ownership, and national security.
He has also previously discussed his own tax policy that would permit small businesses a $20,000 deduction for business-related meals and entertainment, alongside a potential referendum on deporting dual citizens convicted of serious offenses.
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Dutton has pledged to match Labor’s reforms to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, which will reduce the cost of four out of five listed medicines from $31.60 to $25, saving Australians $200 million annually.
He has also promised to match the $8.5 billion boost to Medicare, which will expand bulk billing.
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