Sydney Morning Herald
Chalmers takes an axe to Taylor’s tax plans as he walks back CGT changes
Jim Chalmers went on the offensive against Peter Dutton's tax agenda while quietly conceding that the government's own capital gains tax changes had damaged the start-up sector. The admission marks a notable retreat for Labor, which has faced sustained pressure from the tech and investment community over the policy's unintended consequences. The political jousting signals that tax will be a central battleground heading into the next election.
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Big tobacco is exploiting fears of the illicit market to unwind health gains, Australian experts warn
Tobacco giants are using the threat of illicit trade as a political wedge to roll back decades of hard-won public health policy in Australia, according to a coalition of 15 leading health groups. The warning comes as a parliamentary inquiry was revealed to have heard secret evidence from Philip Morris, raising serious questions about transparency and corporate influence on lawmakers. With cigarettes killing 66 Australians daily, health advocates say the stakes could not be higher.
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Australia news live: two high-profile Liberals defect to One Nation; man dies after suspected balcony fall in Sydney’s west
Two prominent Liberal figures — former NSW senator Hollie Hughes and former party vice-president Teena McQueen — have defected to Pauline Hanson's One Nation, marking a significant blow to the Liberal Party ahead of the federal election. The move signals growing fractures on the right of Australian politics as both parties compete for the same voter base. Meanwhile, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and opposition spokesman Angus Taylor are trading blows over tax bracket policy, with Chalmers pegging the Coalition's indexation plan at a quarter of a trillion dollars in budget costs over a decade.
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Want to buy a house in Sydney? Be prepared to pay nearly $120k over the advertised price
Sydney homebuyers are being forced to shell out an average of nearly $120,000 above advertised asking prices, exposing the scale of underquoting that continues to plague Australia's property market. New data shows fewer than 4% of real estate agents are listing homes within 3% of their final sale price, rendering published price guides almost meaningless as a budgeting tool. Melbourne stands as the sole capital city where properties are more likely to sell below the guide than above it.
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Two high-profile Liberals defect to One Nation – as it happened
Two Liberal members have defected to One Nation, marking a significant blow to the party as internal tensions continue to simmer. The crossover signals growing dissatisfaction within Liberal ranks and a willingness among some conservatives to seek a harder-right alternative. Meanwhile, a sharp fiscal debate has erupted over bracket creep, with Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor trading blows over who is truly returning money to taxpayers.
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