Labor has won the 2022 Federal election, and Anthony Albanese has been sworn in as Australia’s 31st Prime Minister.
There could be some short-term uncertainty if Labor has to rely on minority parties or independents, but it’s looking like Labor will be able to govern in its own right.
The absence of significant macro policy differences between the new Labor Government and the Coalition suggests a minimal impact on the share market and the Australian dollar.
The key economic challenges for the new government relate to inflation, interest rates & housing affordability. Higher inflation and rates argue for faster deficit reduction.
Both major parties took a substantial hit to their support base as the country shifted its preferences towards the minor parties.
It is unknown how influential the Greens and/or Teal independents will be in shaping policy – even around climate change – but the public has spoken. If the ALP follows through on its message of greater inclusiveness, then some “drift” to the left is likely.
The industry sectors likely to benefit from the change in government include clean energy, health, education, home builders and manufacturing, whereas heavy carbon emitters may lose.
Here is what to expect from the new government and what it means to you, and the implications on the economy and investment markets.
Personal income tax
The 2019-20 Budget announced a series of personal income tax reforms.
Stage 3 of those reforms is legislated to commence on 1 July 2024.
Stage 3 radically simplifies the tax brackets by collapsing the 32.5% and 37% rates into a single 30% rate for those earning between $45,001 and $200,000.
Superannuation - No change to SG rate and rate increase
No change to the legislated superannuation guarantee rate increase. The SG rate will increase to 10.5% on 1 July 2022 and steadily increase by 0.5% each year until it reaches 12% on 1 July 2025.
Superannuation guarantee on parental leave
In the 2019 election campaign, Labor committed to paying superannuation on Government-funded paid parental leave payments.
However, when asked about the policy at a media conference, Mr Albanese said, “We can’t commit to everything that we committed to during the last campaign.” The initiative and the proposal to extend paid parental leave from 18 to 26 weeks are not dead but delayed by economic constraints.
Your Super, Your Future
Back in May 2021, Stephen Jones stated that Your Super, Your Future had “serious flaws”.
One of these flaws was the ‘stapled’ superannuation rules introduced on 1 November 2021. This requires employers to identify if an employee has an existing superannuation fund before setting them up in a default fund. (Even if the existing fund is a poorly performing fund.)
Instead, he advocated for superannuation to “move with the employee from one fund to another when they change jobs.” TFN tagging would move the employee’s superannuation account from one fund to another when they changed jobs if they did not identify a fund of choice.
Retirees and pensioners - Eligibility for Commonwealth Seniors Health Card to widen
Eligibility for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card will be widened by increasing income eligibility thresholds.
To be eligible for a CSHC, currently adjusted taxable income plus deeming of account-based pensions (unless grandfathered) needs to be below $57,761 for singles or $92,416 for couples. It is proposed that this increase to $90,000 and $144,000, respectively.
Although the ancillary benefits are not as broad as the pension concession card, a CSHC will provide eligible self-funded retiree clients access to benefits such as:
- Cheaper medicine under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
- Prescriptions become free to cardholders after a safely net of $326.40 for the calendar year has been met.
- Earlier access to the Medicare safety net.
- Bulk billed medical appointments – subject to approval from their doctor.
The policy was initially announced by former Prime Minister Scott Morrison and adopted by the Labor Party.
Freezing deeming rates
Labor has committed to freezing deeming rates that form part of the income test that determines access to the pension and social security payments at their current levels for two years.
Employment & wages
The Fair Work Commission will remain the arbiter of wages and wage growth in Australia, but legislative amendments will:
- Make gender pay equity a central objective of the workplace relations system.
- Make the “same job, same pay” concept an object of the Fair Work Act. For example, workers employed through labour-hire or other employment arrangements such as outsourcing will not receive less pay than workers employed directly.
- Enshrine “secure work” as an objective of the Fair Work Act for gig economy workers. I.e., Extending the Fair Work Commission’s powers to include “employee-like” forms of work. This will enable the FWC to make orders for minimum standards for new forms of work, such as gig work.
- Create an objective test to determine when a worker is classified as a casual.
- Limit the use of fixed-term contracts to 24 months overall.
- Strengthen the ability of the FWC to order pay increases in low paid female-dominated industries.
- Requiring companies with 250 or more workers to publicly report their gender pay gap.
- Make “Wage Theft” a crime.
In addition, two new expert panels will work with the Fair Work Commission:
- Pay Equity, and
- Care and Community Sector
Climate change
Climate change featured heavily in the election. Labor, through its Powering Australia plan, intends to reduce Australia’s emissions by 43% by 2030 and align with a net-zero target by 2050 by:
- Upgrading the electricity grid
- Making electric vehicles cheaper with an electric car discount from 1 July 2022 that will exempt all electric cars below the luxury car tax threshold for fuel-efficient vehicles ($77,565 in 2020-21) from:
- Import tariffs – a 5% tax on some imported electric cars; and
- Fringe benefits tax – a 47% tax on electric vehicles provided through work for private use.
The policy notes that currently, there are only five electric cars in Australia priced under $60,000 and none under $40,000.
- Investing in a new Driving the Nation Fund to invest in 117 electric vehicle fast-charging stations on highways across Australia.
- Adopting the Business Council of Australia’s recommendations for the gradual reduction of emissions by Australia’s largest emitters.
- Ensuring Emissions Intensive Trade Exposed industries will not face a greater constraint than their competitors.
- Allocating up to $3 billion from Labor’s National Reconstruction Fund to invest in green metals (steel, alumina and aluminium); clean energy component manufacturing; hydrogen electrolysers and fuel switching; agricultural methane reduction and waste reduction.
- Providing direct financial support for measures that improve energy efficiency within existing industries and develop new sectors in Regional Australia through a new Powering the Regions Fund.
- Rolling out 85 solar banks around Australia to enable more households to benefit from rooftop solar.
- Installing 400 community batteries across the country.
- Reducing the Australian Public Service’s emissions to net-zero by 2030.
- Investing in 10,000 New Energy Apprentices and a New Energy Skills Program.
- Establishing a real-world vehicle fuel testing program to inform consumer choice.
Manufacturing
Labor has flagged $15 billion of capital to invest in job-creating projects through loans, equity, and guarantees in resources, agriculture, transport, medical science, defence capability, enabling capabilities, renewables, and low emissions technologies. Goods made in Australia will receive preferential treatment in Commonwealth contracts.
A part of the push for local manufacturing is a $100 million partnership with the Queensland government to create an Australian Made Battery Precinct as part of Australia’s first National Battery Strategy.
Implications for investment markets
Macquarie doesn’t see the election result as having much of an impact on financial markets but notes that:
1. Equity market weakness is being driven by “end of cycle pressures” such as rising inflation and interest rates, declining liquidity and slowing economic growth. Neither Labor nor the Coalition can provide a reprieve from these forces or materially change the earnings or rates outlook.
2. A greater focus on climate change can benefit clean energy sources and those corporates that are further through this transition. EVs, hydrogen and grid are clear winners.
3. The risk for fossil fuels is higher – all things equal – but how quickly that risk is realised is uncertain.
4. Ultimately, bond yields, the A$ and equity markets are driven by global forces that the election result will not change. Bond yields and the equity market will not stabilise until inflation risks decline and/or central banks take a more dovish stance on the path for rates.
5. House prices are under threat from rising interest rates and a lack of affordability. Targeted policies offer selective, not universal, support. Australia is entering a new political dawn, but politics will likely remain a secondary driver for markets.
6. The minimum wage proposals are significant in size and breadth (impacting around 20% of the labour force). This could represent a substantial drag for labour-intensive industries on top of rising raw material costs. But, against the highest inflation rates in decades, this is a minor reprieve for spending.
And on the economic front.
The Teal independents’ policies on climate, integrity and health align closely with Labor.
Labor’s (and the Teals) desire to be more than a one-term wonder should work against the new Government moving too far to the left on economic policies. Policies that would push them down a far less business-friendly path, such as implementing the Greens’ proposed super profits tax.
The change in Government has no implications on AMPs growth, inflation and interest rate forecasts for this year. They continue to see the RBA raising the cash rate at its June meeting by 0.4% and increasing it to 1.5%-2% by year-end.
In Conclusion
There will undoubtedly be more political analysis following the election, particularly concerning the driving out of moderates from the LNP, pushing it to the right and threatening the Coalition.
More broadly, the election result represented a rejection of more right-wing/conservative views on climate, gender equity, health, and integrity in support of what one new Teal independent member refers to as the “sensible centre”.
With the share market down 3.5% over the last eight weeks, there is potential for a rebound ahead as political uncertainty is reduced. But the Australian share market remains vulnerable to ongoing global concerns about inflation, interest rates and recession – these will likely dominate.
The industry sectors likely to benefit from the change in Government include clean energy, health, education, home builders and manufacturing, whereas heavy carbon emitters may lose.
If we can help you with your tax, finance and investment concerns, or in any other way, please get in touch with us.
As always, we are here if you need us.
Simon Chesson & Denise Locantro
