Labor stares down calls for carve-outs in tax reform

Treasurer Jim Chalmers is standing firm against calls for business exemptions for his tax measures. Photo: Susie Dodds/AAP PHOTOS Controversial tax changes will go straight to a contested parliamentary inquiry as Labor seeks to fast-track its reform agenda. Treasurer Jim Chalmers stood firm against a growing number of calls for business exemptions as he introduced a landmark bill to parliament on Thursday that included changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing, as well as a $250-a-year rebate for workers. "This is a bill for workers, for first home buyers and for future generations," he told the House of Representatives. "It will help ensure that aspiration and opportunity are the birthright of every Australian and not just some." Treasurer Jim Chalmers' tax reform bill also offers a $250-a-year rebate for workers. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS) But Labor's bill was automatically referred to a senate committee for scrutiny, under rules that laws starting on July 1 are subject to an inquiry before they take effect. The committee will need to report back by June 22. During Question Time, the coalition repeatedly accused Labor of having misled Australians about its plans for "toxic taxes". The government argues the changes will help young people who have been locked out of the housing market by a system that taxes income earned from labour at a higher rate than income derived from investments, including property purchases. But the planned axing of a 50 per cent capital gains tax discount - in place since 1999 - has caused widespread consternation, including from many business groups that fear it will discourage investment. West Australian Premier Roger Cook has become the second Labor state leader, after NSW's Chris Minns, to raise concerns about the tax changes, suggesting the capital gains shift could deter foreign firms from spending money on fledgling mining projects. Housing Minister Clare O'Neil said there would always be opposition to anything "big and difficult". The proposed changes to the tax system were outlined in the budget earlier in May. (Susie Dodds/AAP PHOTOS) While the majority of economists and business groups have acknowledged the need for tax reform, the government has taken flak for replacing the capital gains discount with an inflation-adjusted system. It would apply to all asset sales, including investments in shares and businesses. The government has flagged a likely carve-out for startups, which have low initial costs but the potential for rapid growth, and is consulting with industry groups on other changes. Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Andrew McKellar has called on Labor to confine the tax overhaul to housing. He warned the tax changes would result in less business investment. "That will be bad for productivity. That will be bad for competitiveness. It will be bad for the future growth of the Australian economy," he said. The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry wants Labor's tax overhaul confined to housing. (AAP PHOTOS) Capital gains exemptions exist for small businesses with a turnover of less than $2 million. But that would in effect punish successful businesses that go from paying little or no capital gains tax to a relatively high tax rate because of rapid growth, UNSW professor of economics Richard Holden said. Opposition frontbencher James Paterson said Labor had the process "completely backwards". "Even they admit their own legislation is so flawed that they will have to fix it in the future, but they're saying 'just trust us, we'll rush it through now, and then we'll negotiate with you afterwards to repair the mistakes we've made'," he told Sky News. "Well, that's an outrageous approach to legislating."