Albanese claims sole credit for tax card U-turn
PM Anthony Albanese took sole credit for reversing the ATO's ban on small-business credit card tax payments. This sparked tension with Treasurer Jim Chalmers.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said this week that the government had reversed the Australian Taxation Office's credit card ban. He claimed to have done this alone and did not mention Treasurer Jim Chalmers' role in the U-turn.
Others saw this as a snub, given the constant tension between the two senior ministers. When asked Wednesday if the PM had "rolled" him, Chalmers denied it.
Both men had agreed the week before that a longer transition period was needed, he said. Discussions then followed with business and other ministers, and the announcement came Friday.
"We had the same view," Chalmers told reporters, confirming they had backed the policy shift together. The incident shows the competitive nature of their relationship since Labor took office.
- until middle of next year
- Announcement delay
- Thursday morning
- McKellar text day
- Wednesday
- Chalmers discussion
- Angus Taylor
- Opposition leader
Why it mattersThe government faces pressure from a controversial budget and hard economic times. Any sign of internal division weakens its standing. This opens it up to attacks from the opposition.
AustraliaAustralian small-business owners saw their credit card tax payment method saved from the ban, but the debate exposed internal tensions within the government managing Australia's economy.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago
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