The ‘contrarians’ backing Chalmers’ tax shake-up (with a catch)

by · Australian Financial Review

John KehoeEconomics editor
May 23, 2026 – 5.00am

Amid the fury from start-up founders, investors, and small businesses over Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ budget changes this week, a text message arrived from the former chief executive of a big bank.

“I am a contrarian on the tax changes,” he confided.

Loading...

Save
Log in or Subscribe to save article
Share

Copy link

Copied

EmailLinkedInTwitterFacebook

Copy link

Copied

Share via...
Gift this article

Subscribe to gift this article

Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.

Subscribe now

Already a subscriber? Login

License article

Introducing your Newsfeed

Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you.

Find out more

Read More

John KehoeEconomics editorJohn Kehoe is The Australian Financial Review’s economics editor at Parliament House, Canberra. He writes on economics, politics and business. John was Washington correspondent covering Donald Trump’s first election. He joined the AFR in 2008 from Treasury. Connect with John on Twitter. Email John at jkehoe@afr.com

Latest In Economy

Fetching latest articles