Angus Taylor targets Labor tax changes and migration in major Coalition Budget reply

Angus Taylor will use his Budget reply speech to launch an aggressive Coalition reset focused on tax relief, migration and housing affordability after Labor’s Budget.

Headshot of Madeline Cove
Madeline Cove
The Nightly
The Coalition has announced a plan to block new migrants from accessing welfare benefits until they become Australian citizens.

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor will use his first Budget reply speech on Thursday night to launch an aggressive Coalition pushback against Labor’s tax agenda, unveiling policies focused on housing affordability, migration and cost-of-living pressures.

In a sign the Coalition is sharpening its economic attack lines after last year’s election defeat, Mr Taylor confirmed the Opposition would fight Labor’s planned changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions, arguing the measures would hurt Australians trying to “get ahead”.

“It’s an assault on aspiration,” Mr Taylor said during an interview on Sunrise on Thursday morning.

Sign up to The Nightly's newsletters.

Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.

Email Us
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.

Mr Taylor said the Coalition would continue opposing the proposed tax changes through Parliament and would seek to repeal them if elected to government.

Thursday night’s Budget reply is also expected to include a stronger focus on migration and housing supply, with the Coalition proposing to tie net overseas migration levels to the number of homes available.

“Young Australians can’t buy a home because the level of migration is too high,” Mr Taylor said.

Under the Coalition’s proposed model, migration would sit well below the post-pandemic peak and be assessed annually against housing availability.

The speech is expected to form part of a broader Coalition reset following last year’s election loss and the recent Farrer by-election result, where Pauline Hanson’s One Nation recorded a significant swing.

Mr Taylor is also expected to unveil housing measures aimed at reducing construction costs and boosting supply, as the Coalition attempts to reposition itself as the party focused on affordability, economic management and aspirational voters ahead of the next election.

Comments

Latest Edition

The Nightly cover for 13-05-2026

Latest Edition

Edition Edition 13 May 202613 May 2026

‘Intergenerational fairness’ Budget will saddle young people with $1.2 trillion debt.