Shadow Portfolio — 14 May 2026
Tribune’s note
National Party MP Sam Birrell mounted a parliamentary attack on the Labor budget's negative gearing and capital gains tax changes, framing them as covert tax increases that will worsen housing affordability rather than help first home buyers. His central charge is that the Albanese government lacked the democratic courage to take these changes to an election — a contrast he drew against both John Howard's GST and Bill Shorten's 2019 tax platform.
Birrell further argued that Labor's fiscal settings will sustain inflationary pressure, push up interest rates, and erode deposit savings, compounding the barrier to home ownership.
Primary records (1)
The official records this note draws on — the raw primary documents themselves, as published.