Estimates reveals Labor never consulted youth on their tax changes

The Albanese Labor Government has been caught out in Senate Estimates after officials confirmed young Australians were not formally consulted on Labor’s controversial tax changes before they were announced.

Despite repeatedly claiming its policies are about “intergenerational equity” and helping young people, Labor did not seek advice from the Office for Youth, nor receive any briefing on the impact of its tax changes on young Australians.

When asked whether the Government had requested advice from the Office for Youth on its taxation policy, Office for Youth Assistant Secretary, Kate Chipperfield, confirmed “No Senator, they haven’t”.

Shadow Minister for Youth, Angie Bell, said the revelations exposed Labor’s hypocrisy.

“Labor claims its tax changes are about helping young Australians, yet they never bothered to ask young Australians what they thought before making one of the most significant policy changes affecting their financial future,” Ms Bell said.

“The Government had access to the Office for Youth, the National Youth Summit, Youth Advisory Groups and Youth Meets Parliament participants, but chose not to consult them.”

During Estimates, the Minister for Youth confirmed that Youth Advisory Groups were directed on which issues they could discuss. These topics included climate change, sport participation, mental health, foreign interference and First Nations engagement – but not Labor’s tax changes.

This is despite the Government’s own National Youth Survey identifying cost of living and housing as the top concerns facing young Australians.

“Rather than listening to young people on the issues they say matter most, Labor chose to control the conversation and avoid scrutiny of its own policies.”

“When hundreds of young Australians came to Parliament through Youth Meets Parliament, they were denied the opportunity to engage on one of the most important economic issues affecting their generation.”

“If Labor genuinely believes these changes are in the best interests of young Australians, why were they so afraid to ask young people what they thought before making them?”

The Minister for Youth was unable to identify any consultation with the Treasurer, Treasury, or the Treasurer’s office through the Youth Meets Parliament process before the policy was announced.

Senator Kovacic, who led the questioning in Estimates, said the admission proved the Government was determined to avoid genuine scrutiny.

“Labor did not undertake meaningful consultation with younger Australians who stand to be directly affected by these changes, despite removing opportunities that have helped previous generations build wealth and strengthen their long-term financial security,” Senator Kovacic said.

“It reflects a Government that is increasingly disconnected from the substantial financial pressures facing younger Australians, many of whom are working hard to save for a home deposit and build a secure future. This budget was never designed to support their aspirations; it is instead a blatant revenue raising exercise dressed up in the language of fairness, aimed at plugging Labor’s spending holes.”