Economic Management

18 June

Australia has enjoyed decades of prosperity, but we’re now facing serious economic challenges - and neither major party is willing to tackle them head-on. As your Independent MP for Curtin, I’m committed to long-term thinking and responsible reform to ensure our economy works for everyone, now and into the future.

MY PRIORITIES

To strengthen Australia’s economic future, I’m focused on:

Tax reform – Our tax system must be fit for purpose in a changing world. We need to shift the burden away from working Australians and toward passive income and wealth.
Indexing tax brackets – This would prevent stealth tax increases and force governments to be transparent about new spending.
Boosting productivity – Through workplace relations simplification, innovation, education reform, and skilled migration.
Intergenerational fairness – Young Australians face unaffordable housing, student debt, and climate uncertainty. We must ensure they have the same opportunities as previous generations.
Responsible budgeting – Over time, revenue must match spending. Otherwise, we’re borrowing from future generations.

Everyone knows that Labor and the Liberals have refused to face key economic challenges over recent parliaments despite them having parliamentary majorities. As respected independent economist Chris Richardson put it “we have both sides of politics now promising mediocrity and I believe their promises”. (6 February 2025)

Cost of living, taxation, intergenerational inequity, housing, climate and accountability are beyond their capacity to address. I will hold their feet to the fire.

Delivered

I’ve taken action to promote economic fairness and resilience:

Introduced amendments to limit excessive union powers and preserve workplace flexibility.
Opposed short-sighted tax changes, like taxing unrealised gains in superannuation.
Supported small business investment through asset write-offs and simplified compliance.
Collaborated with crossbench colleagues to push for meaningful tax reform, including contributions to Allegra Spender’s Tax Reform Green Paper.

Australia’s ageing population, rising health and aged care costs, and global uncertainty demand serious economic reform. Productivity growth has stalled - at its lowest in 60 years and our reliance on income tax is unsustainable.

We need bold, evidence-based policies that prepare us for a decarbonising global economy, protect living standards, and ensure fairness across generations.

Watch & Read

Crossbench demands income support increase (24 Apr 2025)
Teals push to index income tax thresholds to inflation (4 Mar 2025)
Spike in donations to independents after election spending caps pass parliament (14 Feb 2025)

Speeches in Parliament

In detail

Structural Deficit & Tax Reform

Despite recent surpluses, the federal budget is projected to remain in deficit for the next decade due to rising costs in health, aged care, the NDIS, and defence.
Australia's ageing population strains the tax system, which heavily relies on income tax from a shrinking workforce.
Short-term solution: Index tax brackets to prevent stealth tax increases and ensure accountability for new spending.
Long-term solution: Comprehensive tax reform, as proposed in Ken Henry’s review and supported by Allegra Spender’s Green Paper.
Political reluctance from major parties is hindering progress.

Productivity

Productivity growth is at its lowest in 60 years, threatening living standards.
Challenges include climate change, reduced global trade, and demographic shifts.
Service sector dominance and declining productivity in sectors like construction contribute to the problem.
Solutions: Simplify workplace relations, foster innovation, reform education, and prioritise skilled migration.

Intergenerational Inequity

Young Australians fear they won’t achieve the same living standards as their parents.
Key issues: housing affordability, student debt, ageing population, and climate change.
Governments must act to ensure future generations have equal opportunities.

Block Branding