Matt Canavan echoes One Nation slogan in clash with Tanya Plibersek over housing reforms

Nationals senator Matt Canavan channelled One Nation-style campaign rhetoric as he launched a blistering attack on Treasurer Jim Chalmers during a fiery showdown with Labor Minister Tanya Plibersek over Labor’s housing reforms.

Appearing on Sunrise on Monday morning, the pair sparred over falling house prices and the Albanese Government’s controversial changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions.

The debate was triggered by fresh signs of weakness in the property market, with Sydney home values falling by an average $75,000 over the past three months and auction clearance rates sliding sharply in Brisbane.

Ms Plibersek was forced to defend Labor’s housing agenda, arguing house prices had become increasingly out of reach for younger Australians and needed to grow more slowly.

“House prices have been growing too fast and that’s meant that young Australians haven’t been able to afford a home of their own,” she said.

The minister pointed to Labor’s proposed tax changes, which would limit future negative gearing concessions to newly built homes, alongside the Government’s 5 per cent deposit scheme and broader housing package.

But Mr Canavan accused Labor of engineering an economic downturn and claimed collapsing confidence was driving weakness in the housing market.

“What this government has engineered is an economic crash, a crash in economic confidence,” he said.

“This budget, like Jim Chalmers, has effectively driven our economy, like Thelma and Louise, over a cliff.”

The Nationals senator repeatedly targeted the Treasurer, arguing Labor lacked a credible economic growth strategy and warning the slowdown would affect more than just house prices.

“They ripped up half their budget last week. That’s not enough,” he said.

Then came a line that caught the attention of Sunrise hosts.

“Everyone wants to fire the liar,” Mr Canavan said.

The phrase mirrors a slogan heavily used by One Nation in recent weeks as the party ramps up attacks on the Albanese Government.

When pressed by hosts on whether he was adopting One Nation rhetoric, Mr Canavan stopped short of endorsing the party but made clear his priority was removing Labor from office.

“I don’t care what it is. I want to get rid of this government because they are failing,” he said.

Mr Canavan later coined his own slogan, declaring Australians should “drop the flop”, referring to Mr Chalmers’ budget.

The exchange descended into a heated argument over housing affordability, with Ms Plibersek accusing the Coalition of voting against measures designed to help first-home buyers.

“He’s voting against more affordable housing. He’s voting against tax cuts for Australian workers,” she said.

Mr Canavan rejected the claim, insisting the Coalition supported tax relief but opposed Labor’s broader economic agenda.

The clash comes as housing affordability remains one of the dominant political battlegrounds, with both major parties attempting to convince voters they have the answer to Australia’s worsening housing crisis.