News and politics: Angus Taylor intensifies attack on tax reforms, backs calls for early election
RECAP: Former prime minister Tony Abbott says he owes ‘the Liberal Party big time’, and that’s why he wanted to step back into the fray.
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Key events
29 May 2026 - 01:47 PM
Tony Abbott becomes Liberal Party’s federal president
29 May 2026 - 11:49 AM
Albo accused of Bondi cover-up as documents kept secret
29 May 2026 - 10:57 AM
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29 May 2026 - 09:37 AM
Taylor throws support behind Canavan’s call for early poll
29 May 2026 - 09:17 AM
Albo’s social media attempt to explain tax changes
29 May 2026 - 08:23 AM
Tax changes will lead to ‘reallocation’ of housing
29 May 2026 - 08:10 AM
Butler rejects industry claims of rent hike due to tax reforms
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Rowland probed on RC public interest immunity claim
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Treasury chief derails Chalmers’ Budget claim
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29 May 2026 - 05:51 AM
Butler and Hume clash over housing crisis amid rent hike warning
Butler and Hume clash over housing crisis amid rent hike warning
Health Minister Mark Butler was forced to defend Labor’s controversial housing tax changes, insisting they will not trigger widespread rent hikes, despite mounting warnings from critics and rival modelling claiming the policy could deepen Australia’s housing crisis.
Speaking on Sunrise on Friday, Mr Butler rejected suggestions the reforms would place new pressure on tenants, arguing the overwhelming majority of existing landlords would be unaffected because negatively geared properties had been grandfathered under the changes.
“Existing landlords have no basis for increasing their rent because of these tax changes, because they’re grandparented,” he said.
Mr Butler pointed to official government modelling forecasting only a modest increase in rents - estimated at about $2 a week - while maintaining the long-term impact would place downward pressure on prices.
“Going forward, there’ll be a modest impact of rent, so about $2 a week,” he said.
“But over time, there’ll be downward pressure on rent, not upward pressure.”
The minister acknowledged landlords may still raise rents, but argued any increases would be driven by broader market conditions rather than Labor’s policy settings.
Deputy Leader of the Opposition Jane Hume delivered a starkly different assessment, arguing Labor lacked a public mandate for the changes and warning the measures could reduce housing construction while pushing rents higher.
“Now we’re hearing that these new housing changes, these toxic taxes, are actually going to reduce the number of houses built and push up rents, making it harder for Australians to get into their first home,” she said.
