It’s a marvellous spectacle as predictable as the sunrise. When Newspoll collapses, the leaks begin.
Labor backbenchers are furious at Albo the Disaster.
Labor MPs are pushing for expanded targeted relief for millions more Australians and an overhaul of stage 3 tax cuts due to commence from July 1 next year, amid concerns the government is struggling to sell its $23bn cost-of-living package.
Labor backbenchers, who will meet with Dr Chalmers and Senator Gallagher this week, have expressed concerns the government’s 10-point cost-of-living plan has been too targeted and should be expanded to capture more households.
Some government MPs are also re-prosecuting the case to trim Coalition-era stage 3 tax cuts, which the Prime Minister has committed to several times since the election.
National cabinet will also meet next Wednesday with Mr Albanese likely to urge state and territory leaders to step up responsibility for disability expenditure and housing.
The problem is the responses are all hackneyed and useless. A few more giveaways on medicine and energy bills and blame the states for housing.
None of that will move the needle. Especially since the real problem is excessive immigration, which has choked the entire supply side of the economy and delivered inflation shocks in everything from housing to construction.
Will Albo the Disaster now backflip on Stage 3 tax cuts? They are already legislated, so it will create an enormous political stink.
Moreover, the Dutton opposition will be handed a baseball bat to beat the Teals to death and reclaim all lost blue ribbon seats with a promise to deliver on the tax cuts in power.
I doubt Albo the Disaster or Chicken Chalmers have the stomach for it, even though it makes perfect economic sense.
What they should be doing, of course, is slashing immigration. That fixes everything.
But Albo the Disaster tore a fissure in the border with India and the folks flowing through it are unstoppable.
Albo the Disaster is in deep trouble, and backbenchers are right to panic.
