Jim Chalmers has narrowed the election attack (at least for this part of the campaign)

This morning on radio and then on TV, the Shadow Treasurer made a stunningly stupid admission, Mr Speaker. He said if those opposite win the election, they will legislate to increase income taxes for every single Australian taxpayer.

Now, as far as we can tell Mr Speaker, this is unprecedented. This has never happened before that an alternative government has gone to the people and said – elect us and we will jack up income taxes for every single taxpayer. I can’t imagine they’re happy about this up the back Mr Speaker, and that’s why they’re pretending to read and they’re looking at their shoes once again.

Because this confirms beyond any doubt that if they win the election, Australians will earn less and keep less of what they earn. It makes it absolutely crystal clear that Australians will be worse off if those opposite win the election, Mr Speaker.

And it’s now not just us saying it – it’s the Shadow Treasurer saying it as well. And as a consequence, they would increase tax-to-GDP. They would increase average rates. They would give back no bracket creep and they would harm participation. Now, this will haunt them for every single day of this election campaign, because this renders anything else the Leader of the Opposition says tonight absolutely meaningless