Government

Labor has grown in popularity since its election in May, and ticked off a number of campaign promises. But harder decisions await in 2023.

And then there is the issue of [placating the gas industry](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/17/is-labors-energy-price-relief-plan-really-a-soviet-style-policy-or-an-armageddon-moment) while working on a mandatory code of conduct. [Jim Chalmers and Katy Gallagher parked the stage-three tax debate before the October mini-budget](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/oct/04/a-shift-on-stage-three-tax-cuts-would-move-the-first-albanese-budget-from-b-for-boring-to-b-for-big) but left the door open to at least delay implementation. [the added pressure of having been part of a deal with the Greens](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/14/labor-energy-price-cap-plan-to-pass-parliament-greens-deal-gas-transition-electrification-households). Companies who have outsourced work to labour hire firms [have already begun to protest the proposed changes.](https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/the-hefty-hidden-price-tag-of-same-job-same-pay-20221219-p5c7fx) [The review will be conducted by the economic inclusion committee.](https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/jim-chalmers-2022/media-releases/members-appointed-economic-inclusion-advisory-committee) The government isn’t under any legal obligation to raise the rate based on the committee’s recommendations, but there is now an expectation at least thatit will increase. [due to come into effect from July 2024.](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/oct/09/the-stage-three-tax-cuts-what-are-they-how-do-they-work-and-why-do-they-exist) Labor’s policy on the tax cuts, legislated by the Morrison government in 2019, has not changed from one of reluctant support. The referendum is due to be held sometime in the second half of 2023, but the yes campaign has a big job ahead of it – not only dealing with detractors, who claim there is not enough detail, but also [explaining the concept to voters](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/nov/23/social-cohesion-under-strain-as-equality-climate-and-inflation-woes-heighten-australians-fears-research-finds). That’s before Labor gets started on its “ [rewiring the nation](https://www.alp.org.au/policies/powering-australia)” plan, or [tackles the safeguard mechanism](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/commentisfree/2022/sep/26/the-safeguard-mechanism-australias-emissions-trading-scheme-in-all-but-name). Inflation was expected to peak at about 8% over the December quarter and gradually begin to decrease over the first six months of next year. [But every honeymoon must come to an end ](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2022/dec/19/scott-morrison-swept-away-by-political-tide-as-anthony-albanese-fights-to-fireproof-2023)and as we head into 2023, the domestic political challenges for the Albanese government will soon loom large. (The former minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt, has [strongly rebutted suggestions from his own side of politics](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/nov/30/nationals-mp-did-not-back-opposing-indigenous-voice-as-ken-wyatt-blasts-partys-laziness) about a lack of detail.) Opinion polls say Australians [are in favour of the voice](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/13/essential-poll-three-quarters-of-voters-believe-cost-of-living-crisis-will-worsen-but-majority-give-albanese-thumbs-up), but a successful referendum requires a double majority – an overall majority of voters plus a majority of voters in at least four states. The reform was one of three recommendations in the