One Nation has claimed credit for the government’s decision to pare back its changes to the capital gains tax concession, saying the populist party’s multi-million-dollar crowdfunding effort had “rattled” Labor.
The government’s plans to raise taxes on investments including housing, shares and companies prompted fierce backlash from the business community, in particular from startups who feared they would be disproportionately impacted.
But One Nation Senator Sean Bell claimed his party’s surging popularity also played a role.
“One Nation’s campaign to ‘fire the liar’ rattled them, they realise they’re exposed, and that is what has driven them into this hugely embarrassing backflip,” he told Sky News on Friday.
Pressed on what the right-wing party would do differently, Senator Bell said One Nation had proposed allowing couples to split their income for tax purposes, but insisted the focus should be on the government’s “deeply flawed Budget”.
“This government has put a terrible bill, a terrible Budget before parliament. Our entire focus (is that) it is defeated,” he said.
Recent polls show One Nation is the most popular political party in Australia while its leader Pauline Hanson leads Anthony Albanese as preferred prime minister.
– with AAP