Paul Keating leaps to budget’s defence

KEATING IS MAINTENANCE

former prime minister Paul Keating has a habit of entering public discourse when excitement is at its peak. not this week AUKUS or China’s role in the Pacific region, but the latest federal budget that prompted Keating to speak out.

Prime minister Anthony Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers can breathe a sigh of relief – this time Keating is on Labour’s side.

“Keating denounced the ‘buzz’ of wealthy businessmen who ‘feasted’ on lightly taxed capital gains for 25 years and now oppose a return to the capital gains inflation index he established as treasurer in 1985.” Australian Financial Review This morning’s report described Keating’s intervention as “a rare show of public support for the Albanian government”.