Jim Chalmers, the Australian Treasurer, recently concluded a roundtable discussion aimed at addressing tax reform, emerging with a cautiously optimistic narrative. The roundtable conversations didn’t lead to a “big shiny box” of solutions. True, as Chalmers herself went on to characterize that result as a “laundry basket of good stuff,” indicating that they at least achieved some baby steps forward. For the next few weeks, Chalmers and his ministerial colleagues engaged in deep conversations. More importantly, though, they focused on putting those tax priorities into three big buckets.
Treasurer Chalmers has recognised that there is a demand for quick wins on tax reform. Moreover, he asserted that the participants around the roundtable table conveyed a very strong desire for reform in three main areas. His approach was notably influenced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s cautious stance, which has shaped the government’s broader strategy.
During the discussions, Chalmers appointed Danielle Wood, the former head of the Grattan Institute, to oversee multiple reports that informed the meeting. Wood’s expertise was instrumental in steering the discussions toward many different aspects of tax reform. Chalmers’s chairmanship earned the participants’ admiration, particularly his skill in bringing diverse stakeholders together and facilitating productive collaboration.
Despite the positive vibe, tensions boiled over when Chalmers had a heated exchange with shadow treasurer Ted O’Brien. This exchange highlighted the difficulty and risks associated with dealing with Australia’s tax quagmire. Despite the many challenges ahead, Chalmers left from the three-day deliberations with an encouraging impression of the strong willingness to work together towards continued collaborative improvement.
We’re really excited to have Chalmers actively collaborating with Mark Butler in his federal legislators’ role. Butler recently announced a vision to bring National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) cost increases under control to 4–6 percent per annum. Chalmers will need to prioritise budget repair, even as pressures increase due to the high costs of healthcare and other sectors.
“Most Australians would be alarmed to know that one out of every 10 six-year-olds are in the NDIS, including 16 percent of six-year-old boys.” – Mark Butler
