<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/jim-chalmers" rel="" target="" title="Treasurer Jim Chalmers"><span>Treasurer Jim Chalmers</span></a><span> has sought to downplay Treasury advice urging the government to increase </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/tax" rel="" target="" title="taxes"><span>taxes</span></a><span>, which was accidentally sent to journalists.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-14/raise-taxes-lower-housing-target-treasury-advises-labor/105504538" rel="" target="_blank" title="independent advice erroneously provided to the ABC"><span>independent advice erroneously provided to the ABC</span></a><span> said taxation revenue needs to be increased and spending reduced if the budget is to get out of its structural deficit.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It also said the government's housing target of 1.2 million new homes by mid-2029 is unachievable and should be revised.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/finance/gst-why-are-there-calls-to-change-it-australia-tax-system-explained/90b4e02e-8aec-4a15-8727-e2ba31209a98"><strong><span>Why experts want to raise one of Australia's least popular taxes</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>According to the ABC, it received a heavily redacted copy of the incoming government brief under a freedom of information request, but a number of headings from the advice were left unedited.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Chalmers said the full nature of the advice he received wasn't "adequately captured in the subheadings", and that the government was already focusing on the topics raised.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"What's happened here is a Treasury official has sent those documents in error, that sort of thing happens from time to time," he said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/treasury-advice-leak-raise-taxes-lower-housing-targets-treasurer-jim-chalmers-response/37340233-73c5-4e79-8dce-f0dd01cdf759" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I'm pretty relaxed about it, to be honest, because, of course, Treasury provides advice for incoming governments and no government typically goes into the detail of that.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The other reason I'm pretty relaxed about it is we have already made it really clear that we will need to do more to meet our housing targets.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/nsw-nowra-man-alleged-axe-assault-police-chase/1c3adb1c-626b-40a4-b975-d071a5324845"><strong><span>Man charged after alleged axe attack and police pursuit in sports car</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We have already made it really clear that we will do more to make our economy more productive and more resilient."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The publication of the advice comes as the government is facing widespread calls to overhaul the tax system, which is heavily reliant on personal income tax but at the same time failing to provide enough revenue to meet spending needs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The last election campaign was a frustrating one, with neither side offering much to grapple with a range of issues," economist Chris Richardson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"So it's marvellous to be able to peak at the independent advice Treasury gave to the returned government.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"None of that advice is surprising, but equally none of it is as familiar to Australians as it should be.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/anthony-albanese-china-trip-prime-minister-to-meet-with-xi-jinping/6fa824e0-8eaf-4487-8476-3772a8ad4eb6"><strong><span>Chinese pipeline worth $120 billion at stake in crucial talks</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Far better that these issues are raised and discussed - if we're to get a better nation, we need a better conversation."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Chalmers has repeatedly said tax reform will be on the agenda at the government's productivity roundtable next month, although indicated </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/finance/gst-why-are-there-calls-to-change-it-australia-tax-system-explained/90b4e02e-8aec-4a15-8727-e2ba31209a98" rel="" target="" title="a change to the GST"><span>a change to the GST</span></a><span> isn't on the way.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Both the prime minister and I have made it pretty clear, when it comes to the GST we had a view about that historically and that view hasn't changed," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We have tried not to artificially limit the ideas of the states or others that will bring to the roundtable...</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are interested in ways to simplify the tax system."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS 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