Independent MP Allegra Spender has defended her decision to vote against the Albanese government’s tax legislation in the House of Representatives, pushing back against accusations of an “Olympic-level backflip” on tax reform. Speaking on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing program, the member for Wentworth said she supports narrowing the capital gains tax (CGT) discount but believes the government’s indexation model is flawed.
Spender dismissed suggestions she had been influenced by her wealthy electorate, arguing she is holding out for a model that supports risk-taking enterprises while using the raised revenue to permanently lower marginal tax rates for workers. “I’ve always wanted to see tax reform, and I commend the government for putting tax reform on the table ... but how you do it matters too,” she said.
In other news, a police sergeant has avoided jail over the death of 16-year-old Indigenous teenager Jai Wright. Benedict Bryant was found guilty of dangerous driving occasioning death after parking his unmarked car in front of a stolen trail bike ridden by Wright in 2022. The teenager was thrown off the bike and sustained critical head injuries, dying in hospital the next day. Bryant was sentenced to a two-year intensive corrections order, a term of imprisonment served outside jail.
Meanwhile, a 70-year-old Western Australian man has been charged with allegedly sending offensive emails containing racist remarks to a federal parliamentarian. The Australian Federal Police began investigating in April after eight allegedly offensive emails were received. The man was arrested and granted bail to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on 10 July, facing five counts of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence.
