Oct 11, 2026 · 16 min · 9 segments
Australia's communications minister Anika Wells joins Amanda Copp for the debut episode of POLITICO's Canberra Playbook Podcast, revealing where she's prepared to compromise to get her landmark…
Amanda CoppHost
Anika WellsGuest
Ryan HeathHost
Anyway, Ryan, this week we've got some pretty big pieces of legislation coming up.
These are the changes from the federal budget that would tax trusts at 30% as a flat rate with a few exemptions.
And it sounds like from what I'm hearing that Labor will introduce the legislation to Parliament this week.
They thought it was going to be this nice cost of living announcement, but it's sort of blown up in his face with small businesses really in open revolt at this stage.
And it feels like it's almost the same thing that's happened with this trusts legislation, do you think?
Well, he's getting a track record for some laws of unintended consequences, I would say.
Well, I think trusts do have a reputation in Australia for being something that is elite and something that can be used for tax avoidance.
And that does not mean everyone who has a trust does that or that there aren't really good reasons to have a trust.
And I think Chalmers has probably rested a little bit too much on that reputation and not enough on full consultation.
Anyway, Ryan, this week we've got some pretty big pieces of legislation coming up.
These are the changes from the federal budget that would tax trusts at 30% as a flat rate with a few exemptions.
And it sounds like from what I'm hearing that Labor will introduce the legislation to Parliament this week.
They thought it was going to be this nice cost of living announcement, but it's sort of blown up in his face with small businesses really in open revolt at this stage.
And it feels like it's almost the same thing that's happened with this trusts legislation, do you think?
Well, he's getting a track record for some laws of unintended consequences, I would say.
Well, I think trusts do have a reputation in Australia for being something that is elite and something that can be used for tax avoidance.
And that does not mean everyone who has a trust does that or that there aren't really good reasons to have a trust.
And I think Chalmers has probably rested a little bit too much on that reputation and not enough on full consultation.
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