Frydenberg lashes independent rival over tax stance

He said Dr Ryan was aware of recent analysis from the International Monetary Fund that Australia would next year have the eighth-largest structural deficit of the 34 nations it tracks, at 3.6 per cent of GDP.

“She will be expecting to see plans for budget repair from whichever party forms government.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the weekend promised there would be no tax increases if the Coalition was re-elected, labelling lower taxes “an iron clad guarantee”, including maintaining the 23.9 per cent tax to GDP cap.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has rejected tax increases except on multinational corporations, although Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers said Labor would not adopt the Coalition’s tax cap.

Greens leader Adam Bandt has said he will push Labor to adopt his party’s proposed $500 billion in new taxes and plans to scrap the $184 billion in personal income tax cuts slated to come into effect from 2024.

Tight polls and the prospect of a hung parliament prompt regular questions about which major party independent candidates would back in a hung parliament or how they would vote on the crossbench.

Mr Morrison and Mr Albanese have ruled out striking deals for power, but a minority government would require crossbench support on what the Prime Minister called a “deal by deal” basis.

Before running as an independent, Dr Ryan was a Labor Party member, prompting Mr Frydenberg to label her a “fake independent”. The Climate 200-backed candidate insists she “is not Labor”.

“Dr Ryan will not be beholden to a party platform, an economic ideology or vested interests,” her spokesman said, adding that her vote “cannot be bought”.

Independent candidates Sophie Scamps, Allegra Spender, Zoe Daniel, Kylea Tink and Helen Haines said they would wait to see the election result, and if there was a hung parliament negotiate with both sides on issues.

Ms Ryan’s spokesman said in a hung parliament Dr Ryan would “work with all parties to secure an outcome that aligns with the values of the Kooyong community” on which she was elected.