May 30, 2026 – 5.00amLabor’s decision to break its 2022 election promise to leave untouched the already legislated stage three tax cuts had been preceded by a prolonged period of tension between Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers.In opposition, Labor, against every ideological instinct, had voted for the cuts in the Senate so as not to be wedged by the Morrison government.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Phillip CooreyPolitical editorPhillip Coorey is The Australian Financial Review’s political editor based in Canberra. He has covered federal politics since 1998, beginning at The Advertiser before serving as a New York correspondent for News Corp and later as chief political correspondent at The Sydney Morning Herald. A two-time winner of the Paul Lyneham Award for press gallery excellence, he joined the AFR in 2012 and writes the weekly Canberra Observed column. He is a regular commentator on ABC TV’s Insiders program.Fetching latest articles