Controversial tax reforms in the federal budget will help protect Australia's democracy and social cohesion as more voters look for solutions from populist parties, the prime minister says.
When asked why he was not up front about changes to negative gearing and the capital gains tax before the last election, Anthony Albanese told an economic summit the federal government was forced to act in the May budget.
"If people think the economy isn't working for them and they're working their guts out and they're not getting an opportunity, I'll tell you what, they will turn to more simplistic, grievance-based politics," he told the Australia's Economic Outlook summit, hosted by News Corp, on Friday.
"That is the context in which my government is saying, 'no, we're going to deliver real change for the better'."
