Shadow Minister for the Science, Technology and Innovation, Aaron Violi, has today slammed the Albanese Labor Government for burying a “hidden death tax’ in the fine print of the 2026 Budget, accusing the government of orchestrating a cold-blooded raid on the inheritance of young Australians.
The attack follows a disastrous performance by Minister for Industry and Innovation, Tim Ayres, who in a recent interview failed six times to provide a straight answer regarding the implementation of the duty.
“Labor Minster, Tim Ayres, has confirmed every Australians worst fears: Labor has a secret plan for a death tax, and they don’t have the courage to say it upfront to Australians,” Mr Violi said.
“This is a tax on the future. It’s a tax on the house you worked your whole life to pay off, the startup or family business you built from the ground up that you hoped to leave to your kids.
“Tim Ayres’ inability to answer basic questions proves this isn’t an oversight – it’s a strategy. They buried it in the small print because they knew it would be a betrayal of the Australian public. If the Government can’t explain how it works, they shouldn’t be implementing it.”
The Coalition is calling on the Prime Minister and the Treasurer to immediately come clean on the full scope of the death duty and provide a guarantee that no Australian family will see their inheritance cannibalised by Labor’s Budget black hole.
“Under Labor, you’re taxed when you earn it, you’re taxed when you spend it, and now they’re coming for you when you’re gone,” Mr Violi said.
