Live: Bridget McKenzie says 'widow tax' fix amounts to 'backflip'

live Federal politics live: Bridget McKenzie says 'widow tax' fix amounts to 'backflip' Bridget McKenzie says the release of draft legislation to address unintended consequences of Labor's budget measures amounts to a "backflip". Follow all the updates in our live blog. Submit a comment or question Live updates Wed 5 Aug 2026 at 7:15am Bridget McKenzie says draft bill to close so called 'widow tax' amounts to 'backflip' Nationals frontbencher Bridget McKenzie says the release of draft legislation to close unintended consequences of the Labor's budget measures amounts to a "backflip". Widowers, divorcees and domestic violence victims could have faced less favourable tax treatment on investment properties previously shared with a partner under the government's budget. Under draft legislation released for consultation on Tuesday, Australians who inherit an ownership stake in an investment property from a spouse would keep the negative gearing treatment that applied before their partner's death. Speaking to Channel Seven, McKenzie has repeated the Coalition would repeal Labor's budget measures if it's voted into government. "I think what we're seeing with another backflip from Labor is confirmation of Labor's economic incompetence," McKenzie says. "The fact that nearly three months after the federal budget is handed down, we're having to again have to fix up a mess of Labor's making." Wed 5 Aug 2026 at 7:04am Good morning 👋 Hello, and welcome to our federal politics live blog. It's great to have you join us here on this chilly Wednesday morning! I'm Josh Boscaini, joining you live from Parliament House in Canberra, here and ready to bring you all of today's federal politics news. The treasurer has released draft legislation for consultation to close unintended consequences of Labor's federal budget tax overhaul, including the so-called "widow tax". Widowers, divorcees and domestic violence victims could have faced less favourable tax treatment on investment properties previously shared with a partner under Labor's budget. And Energy Minister Chris Bowen will be up at the National Press Club later today, where he'll be announcing that the cost of installing solar at schools, supermarkets, factories and farm buildings will be slashed by about 20 per cent. Let's get right into the day and see what happens! Loading