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Posted: 2023-02-02 00:20:23

The Albanese government has been urged to embark on a range of unpalatable economic and tax reforms to pay for massive spending already baked into its budget.

While saying it is confident that Australia has a "narrow path" to avoiding a recession this year, the International Monetary Fund has targeted an overhaul of tax and spending programs, including the "stage three" income tax cuts and NDIS funding.

However, in its annual review of Australia, the IMF has suggested a range of tough reforms that are traditionally political "poison" to repair the national budget and to stabilise its finances for the long term.

It suggestions included raising the goods and services tax and broadening its base, winding back the capital gains tax exemption when people sell the family home, and reviewing the controversial "stage 3" personal tax cuts that favour high-income earners.

During the election campaign, both Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said they would not be unwinding the stage 3 tax cuts legislated by the former Liberal-National government, that are to take effect in July 2024.

In addition to ruling out a higher GST, Labor has abandoned policies it promulgated in 2019 to reduce the 50 per cent capital gains discount for property investors and shareholders, promises that contributed to Bill Shorten's election loss.

The IMF also called for broader tax reform — which has been resisted by successive Labor and Coalition governments — such as ending state stamp duties on property transactions in favour of land taxes.

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