The Greens have made clear even economic concepts aren’t immune from political correctness.
Senator Nick McKim repeatedly described the Albanese government’s grandfathering of negative gearing changes to protect current investors as ‘grandpersoning’ earlier this week.
The Tasmanian senator rolled out the gender neutral phrase three times while answering a single question at a press conference with party leader Larissa Waters on Tuesday.
‘It seems as if the government is going to grandperson in existing arrangements,’ he said.
McKim’s argument was that ‘grandpersoning’ would mitigate the benefits of reforming the tax break, which is popular with property investors.
‘Grandfathering’ clauses – as they are more commonly known – are where current arrangements are exempted from changes in new laws and contracts.
McKim’s comments attracted criticism from conservative commentators.
In an opinion column, Rita Panahi wrote that the comment was ‘a sign of just how fringe and feckless the Greens are’, dubbing the party ‘radical communist clowns’.
Senator Nick McKim rolled out the new, gender-neutral spin on ‘grandfather’ at a media conference with Greens leader Larissa Waters (stock image)
Treasurer Jim Chalmers later confirmed he was axing negative gearing, with a grandfather clause protecting current investors
A Sky News Australia post about McKim’s language sparked further criticism – including a quip that ‘I’d hate to break it to Nick McKim that the word “person” has “son” in it.’
Others suggested that McKim was deliberately trolling his critics with his comments, dubbing them ‘conservative snowflakes’.
McKim’s unique, politically correct language doesn’t seem to have been picked up by his colleagues.
A Greens media release about the Budget changes criticised Labor for ‘leaving intact tens of billions in existing tax handouts for wealthy property investors through grandfathering’.
And the party’s own housing spokeswoman, Senator Barbara Pocock, said: ‘The housing tax changes grandfather inequality.’
McKim’s comments were made before Treasurer Jim Chalmers confirmed he was axing negative gearing on all properties except new builds from July 1, 2027.
Labor will also reform the capital gains tax, eliminating the 50 per cent discount in favour of a model tying it to inflation.
