Australian Politics General...

[Belli]

Well written @Belli , explained perfectly, I found out first hand in 1982 that the ATO is black and white, very little grey.

When I thought I had given a terrific explanation why I couldn't at that point in time pay my tax bill and how it was due to tragic circumstances beyond my control, they were very understanding and said I could waive it as long as I liked, but it would incur interest at the standard rate. Lol

Thanks @sptrawler. I'm not a lawyer but in my early 40's it was an area in which I was involved. I checked before I posted and the requirements surrounding the write off/waiver of debts by Government departments hasn't changed.

It's awful for those who have received these payment notices, and I hope the issues are resolved in their favour, but we generally expect public servants to properly administer the legislation passed by Parliament. Sadly legislation can have some not-so-good sections in them. I'm not saying it's nice or it's done well but, basically, you cannot administer only the good parts and ignore the bad aspects of legislation.

I was wondering about Why now? with these tax notices. I've no inside knowledge but I hazard a guess with the Federal Government looking for dollars, it's possible the ATO, having a large tax deferred debt in it's books, got a nudge, either by an internal review or an external one (think Dept of Finance), to reduce it. Only a guess though.

 

[IFocus]

Is the government taking more from students through HECS than it collects from the Petroleum Resources Rent Tax?​

Richard Denniss, executive director of The Australia Institute think tank, has called on policymakers to rethink how Australia raises revenues and to increase taxes on the nation's oil and gas companies.

"Just consider the fact that in Norway, they tax the fossil fuel industry and they give university education to their kids for free," he said in an address to the National Press Club.

"In Australia we subsidise the fossil fuel industry and we charge our kids a fortune to go to uni.

"Choices matter. And the Australian government collects more money from HECS [the Higher Education Contribution Scheme] than it does from the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax [PRRT]."

Does the government really collect more money from HECS than it does from the PRRT?

Executive director of The Australia Institute, Richard Dennis, says the government collects more money from HECS than the PRRT. RMIT ABC Fact Check runs the numbers.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Smurf1976]

"Choices matter. And the Australian government collects more money from HECS [the Higher Education Contribution Scheme] than it does from the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax [PRRT]."

As with anything, there's the detail.

How much is the federal government spending on universities versus oil exploration and production? What's the net position of tax less expenses?

What portion of the education is actually of value to the nation? Versus that which is of value only to the individual who'll never put those skills to use in a way that contributes to society?

Anecdotally I suspect rather a lot of our national investment into education isn't producing benefits for society. Someone gets a degree but it's not the basis of any subsequent employment, business or creative output. Fair enough if they just want it but a bit unreasonable to expect taxpayers to fund it.

 

[macca]

As with anything, there's the detail.

How much is the federal government spending on universities versus oil exploration and production? What's the net position of tax less expenses?

What portion of the education is actually of value to the nation? Versus that which is of value only to the individual who'll never put those skills to use in a way that contributes to society?

Anecdotally I suspect rather a lot of our national investment into education isn't producing benefits for society. Someone gets a degree but it's not the basis of any subsequent employment, business or creative output. Fair enough if they just want it but a bit unreasonable to expect taxpayers to fund it.

I think that our industries should be involved in planning our Education.

It would make a lot of sense for Govt to adjust Uni fees for courses to tie in with future industry needs instead of a surplus of this and a shortage of that we could make needed skills cheaper than un needed skills

Too may teachers = $50k Hecs Not enough engineers= $10k Hecs

 

[IFocus]

As with anything, there's the detail.

How much is the federal government spending on universities versus oil exploration and production? What's the net position of tax less expenses?

What portion of the education is actually of value to the nation? Versus that which is of value only to the individual who'll never put those skills to use in a way that contributes to society?

Anecdotally I suspect rather a lot of our national investment into education isn't producing benefits for society. Someone gets a degree but it's not the basis of any subsequent employment, business or creative output. Fair enough if they just want it but a bit unreasonable to expect taxpayers to fund it.

I was surprised to learn it was taxpayers who actually stumped up the initial exploration for oil and gas by government then the results are handed over to oil and gas companies as permits are issued at least that's my understanding.

Stil Richard Denniss point

""Just consider the fact that in Norway, they tax the fossil fuel industry and they give university education to their kids for free," he said in an address to the National Press Club."

It's a case of priorities and wasted opportunities by Australia giving away our natural resources which you only get one shot at.

 

[SirRumpole]

CSIRO defends claims by Dutton that its figures on nuclear power were "discredited".

I would rather trust scientists than politicians that's for sure.

CSIRO boss hits back at Dutton over nuclear power research

The CSIRO has rebuked politicians seeking to undermine its research showing nuclear energy would be much more expensive than solar or wind power, after Liberal leader Peter Dutton claimed that research had been "discredited".

www.abc.net.au

 

[sptrawler]

Interesting take on super by Keating.

Keating pressed Chalmers on Origin-Brookfield deal ‘scam’

Secret Treasury documents reveal former PM Paul Keating pressed the treasurer to reject Canadian private equity giant Brookfield’s $20 billion Origin tilt.

www.afr.com

Secret federal Treasury documents reveal former Labor prime minister Paul Keating pressed Treasurer Jim Chalmers to reject Canadian private equity giant Brookfield’s attempted so-called “scam” to buy Origin Energy for $20 billion.

The dialogue is notable because Dr Chalmers was due to adjudicate on Brookfield’s play for Origin – on foreign investment and competition issues – before shareholders led by AustralianSuper struck down the deal and spared the treasurer from making a call.
In a colourful email to the treasurer on November 29, Mr Keating gave Dr Chalmers a “heads up” that he had just given a statement to The Australian Financial Review outlining his opposition to the “tawdry and opportunist attempted takeover of Origin Energy – the country’s largest energy retailer/generator”.

Mr Keating told Dr Chalmers in an accompanying cover letter that: “The Brookfield proposition is nothing but a scam to siphon out of Australia billions of renewable energy profits to a Canadian private equity fund.

“Fortunately, we have bucket loads of social capital in the superannuation system to take ownership of these sorts of assets – like the funds have done recently with owning Sydney Airport.
“But the fact is, Origin is central to the energy transition in Australia and therefore, there are national interest considerations in Brookfield’s scandalously opportunist proposal.

“In the statement you will see my reference to Marius Kloppers’s and BHP’s attempts to take over the Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan [in Canada] in 2010, only to be immediately thwarted by the Canadian government.

“The government should give strong consideration of having FIRB [Foreign Investment Review Board] reject the proposal on absolutely clear national interest grounds.

“No doubt, you will see the reportage tomorrow.”

The following morning, on November 30, the Financial Review reported that Mr Keating had dismissed Brookfield as an “opportunist private equity fund” and its $20 billion pursuit of Origin Energy as a “get-rich-quick” scheme that Australia needed “like we need a hole in the head”.

But until Friday 5pm, when Treasury released the additional documents in response to a freedom of information request, it was not publicly known that Mr Keating had also pressed the treasurer on the matter.


Mr Keating’s opposition to the deal lent support to major shareholder and industry super fund AustralianSuper to block the takeover, with the support of other shareholders.

Former Keating political adviser Don Russell is the chairman of AustralianSuper.

Mr Keating founded Australia’s compulsory superannuation system and he, like Dr Chalmers, wants the retirement fund industry to play a larger role in investing in the energy transition to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Mr Keating is a Labor hero for Dr Chalmers, who wrote a PhD thesis on the former Labor prime minister’s time in office.

However, Dr Chalmers has been prepared to disagree with Mr Keating on some matters, including his criticisms of Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, the government’s handling of relations with China and the United States, and Mr Keating’s assertion that Australia’s top income tax rate should be no higher than 39 per cent.

 

[farmerge]

Interesting take on super by Keating.

Keating pressed Chalmers on Origin-Brookfield deal ‘scam’

Secret Treasury documents reveal former PM Paul Keating pressed the treasurer to reject Canadian private equity giant Brookfield’s $20 billion Origin tilt.

www.afr.com

Secret federal Treasury documents reveal former Labor prime minister Paul Keating pressed Treasurer Jim Chalmers to reject Canadian private equity giant Brookfield’s attempted so-called “scam” to buy Origin Energy for $20 billion.

The dialogue is notable because Dr Chalmers was due to adjudicate on Brookfield’s play for Origin – on foreign investment and competition issues – before shareholders led by AustralianSuper struck down the deal and spared the treasurer from making a call.
In a colourful email to the treasurer on November 29, Mr Keating gave Dr Chalmers a “heads up” that he had just given a statement to The Australian Financial Review outlining his opposition to the “tawdry and opportunist attempted takeover of Origin Energy – the country’s largest energy retailer/generator”.

Mr Keating told Dr Chalmers in an accompanying cover letter that: “The Brookfield proposition is nothing but a scam to siphon out of Australia billions of renewable energy profits to a Canadian private equity fund.

“Fortunately, we have bucket loads of social capital in the superannuation system to take ownership of these sorts of assets – like the funds have done recently with owning Sydney Airport.
“But the fact is, Origin is central to the energy transition in Australia and therefore, there are national interest considerations in Brookfield’s scandalously opportunist proposal.

“In the statement you will see my reference to Marius Kloppers’s and BHP’s attempts to take over the Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan [in Canada] in 2010, only to be immediately thwarted by the Canadian government.

“The government should give strong consideration of having FIRB [Foreign Investment Review Board] reject the proposal on absolutely clear national interest grounds.

“No doubt, you will see the reportage tomorrow.”

The following morning, on November 30, the Financial Review reported that Mr Keating had dismissed Brookfield as an “opportunist private equity fund” and its $20 billion pursuit of Origin Energy as a “get-rich-quick” scheme that Australia needed “like we need a hole in the head”.

But until Friday 5pm, when Treasury released the additional documents in response to a freedom of information request, it was not publicly known that Mr Keating had also pressed the treasurer on the matter.


Mr Keating’s opposition to the deal lent support to major shareholder and industry super fund AustralianSuper to block the takeover, with the support of other shareholders.

Former Keating political adviser Don Russell is the chairman of AustralianSuper.

Mr Keating founded Australia’s compulsory superannuation system and he, like Dr Chalmers, wants the retirement fund industry to play a larger role in investing in the energy transition to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Mr Keating is a Labor hero for Dr Chalmers, who wrote a PhD thesis on the former Labor prime minister’s time in office.

However, Dr Chalmers has been prepared to disagree with Mr Keating on some matters, including his criticisms of Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, the government’s handling of relations with China and the United States, and Mr Keating’s assertion that Australia’s top income tax rate should be no higher than 39 per cent.

Not always a fan of Keating but I agree with this.

 

[sptrawler]

@IFocus as I've always said, live by the sword, die by the sword, or another one as you sal sow, so shall you reap.

ScoMo put himself as joint minster, in ministries that he felt he needed to have all the information, to face the press, during the national shutdown. You thought i was outrageous, weeel as you would say, it sounds like the current Govt is adept at just flicking the bird also.
Maybe Ita needs to be re employed, who knows?

Senior members of the government cast doubt on PM's cabinet assertion

There is confusion over just who has seen the federal government's plans for a religious discrimination act, despite the prime minister insisting his cabinet colleagues had viewed two pieces of draft legislation.

www.abc.net.au

• In short: Labor has produced draft legislation to overhaul Australia's religious discrimination laws.
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese insisted his cabinet colleagues had seen it but that's been cast into doubt.
• What's next? It remains unclear who within Labor has seen the draft legislation, while some in the Coalition have access to it.

There is confusion over just who has seen the federal government's plans for a religious discrimination act, despite the prime minister insisting his cabinet colleagues had viewed two pieces of draft legislation.

The government's push to protect LGBT students and teachers from discrimination in religious schools, while at the same time bolstering protections for people of faith, has been in the spotlight this week after Anthony Albanese vowed he would only proceed if he had bipartisan support.

On Friday, Mr Albanese told reporters in regional New South Wales that his government had two pieces of draft legislation, one that would amend the Sex Discrimination Act and another that would create a religious discrimination act.

When asked if his cabinet had seen the draft legislation, Mr Albanese responded: "Yeah, obviously, that's the way cabinet works."

But that was at odds with what other senior members of the government have told the ABC, one of whom said it would be unusual for the cabinet to consider draft legislation.

Following Mr Albanese's comments on Friday, the ABC contacted his office seeking clarification.

A spokesperson said the government was "pursuing a constructive approach and looking for bipartisanship" on religious discrimination laws, adding that the prime minister's office does not comment on cabinet matters.

 

[orr]

In a not to far alternative universe ' Australiea' could now have had a Liberal government led by the likes of Julie Bishop, Bridget Archer, Julia Banks, Andrew Constance and more importantly upcoming 'better heads' that would see something of a future for the country and themselves(*secondarly)....
Congratulations to the conservatives of australia for what is termed 'the Opposition'.... dutton, littleproud, joyce, leahy, patterson... Long may they rein as opposition: G. Rhienhart, god-bless, she gets what she pays for.

I'm getting the impression I must have been the only one who rsvp'eed' to the morrison farewell event...

Oh ....and give us Trump of give us death and Pualine Hanson for our upcoming US ambassador.

 

[farmerge]

In a not to far alternative universe ' Australiea' could now have had a Liberal government led by the likes of Julie Bishop, Bridget Archer, Julia Banks, Andrew Constance and more importantly upcoming 'better heads' that would see something of a future for the country and themselves(*secondarly)....
Congratulations to the conservatives of australia for what is termed 'the Opposition'.... dutton, littleproud, joyce, leahy, patterson... Long may they rein as opposition: G. Rhienhart, god-bless, she gets what she pays for.

I'm getting the impression I must have been the only one who rsvp'eed' to the morrison farewell event...

Oh ....and give us Trump of give us death and Pualine Hanson for our upcoming US ambassador.

@orr This is a very healthy list of complete and udder duds.

 

[sptrawler]

In a not to far alternative universe ' Australiea' could now have had a Liberal government led by the likes of Julie Bishop, Bridget Archer, Julia Banks, Andrew Constance and more importantly upcoming 'better heads' that would see something of a future for the country and themselves(*secondarly)....
Congratulations to the conservatives of australia for what is termed 'the Opposition'.... dutton, littleproud, joyce, leahy, patterson... Long may they rein as opposition: G. Rhienhart, god-bless, she gets what she pays for.

I'm getting the impression I must have been the only one who rsvp'eed' to the morrison farewell event...

Oh ....and give us Trump of give us death and Pualine Hanson for our upcoming US ambassador.

Have to agree with you, the opposition is bereft of talent, that goes for the Libs in W.A also.

 

[farmerge]

Have to agree with you, the opposition is bereft of talent, that goes for the Libs in W.A also.

I don't think it is a case of what we pay for either. I wouldn't mind the salary package with the lurks and perks. I have a few empty troughs here that my snout would easily fit into.

 

[wayneL]

Problem is that the whole political landscape is full of reptilians and incompetents.

We need the God Emperor

 

[sptrawler]

In a not to far alternative universe ' Australiea' could now have had a Liberal government led by the likes of Julie Bishop, Bridget Archer, Julia Banks, Andrew Constance and more importantly upcoming 'better heads' that would see something of a future for the country and themselves(*secondarly)....
Congratulations to the conservatives of australia for what is termed 'the Opposition'.... dutton, littleproud, joyce, leahy, patterson... Long may they rein as opposition: G. Rhienhart, god-bless, she gets what she pays for.

I'm getting the impression I must have been the only one who rsvp'eed' to the morrison farewell event...

Oh ....and give us Trump of give us death and Pualine Hanson for our upcoming US ambassador.

Well orr, your wish may well be fullfilled, everyone is getting fed up with labor and Liberal, that's for sure, obviously the unwashed masses are fed up with mainstream same as in the U.S.
Let's be honest Dutton is unelectable, but Albo losing ground isn't good either, god help us if the Greens get in.

PM’s personal rating slips as frustration with major parties grows

Labor and Anthony Albanese hold narrow leads on whether they are running a united team and have a vision for the future, but voters put Peter Dutton and the Coalition ahead on immigration and the economy.

www.theage.com.au

Voters have trimmed their support for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s personal performance over the past month, highlighting a challenge for Labor in regaining lost ground on key measures such as trust, vision and strong leadership.

The shift cut Albanese’s net performance rating from minus 6 per cent to minus 11 per cent as voters drifted from Labor and increased their support for the Greens.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s net performance rating rose slightly, from minus 11 per cent to minus 9 per cent, but core support for the Coalition slipped over the month.

Resolve director Jim Reed said Albanese’s net performance rating had fallen by about 50 percentage points over the past 18 months. In August 2022, the prime minister’s net performance rating was 39 percentage points.

“Albanese and Dutton have been rated quite closely on net performance for the last six months, which is a far cry from Albanese’s leads after the last election and before the referendum vote on the Indigenous Voice,” Reed said.

“We have to remember that each leader is being assessed on their performance in their respective roles, and one could argue that being PM is a tougher gig, but the most striking feature is that they are both in negative territory.

“Many voters simply don’t rate them highly on the job that they are doing.”

The Resolve Political Monitor, conducted for this masthead by research company Resolve Strategic, found Labor’s primary vote had fallen from 34 to 32 per cent and the Coalition’s from 37 to 35 per cent.

Support for the Greens rose from 11 to 13 per cent while One Nation slipped from 6 to 5 per cent and independent candidates rose from 9 to 11 per cent.

 

[sptrawler]

Looks like things are getting busy in Canberra.
The polls must be having an effect, one would hope both sides take notice, they both need to lift their game IMO.

Labor’s car plan shifts down a gear as voters lukewarm on carbon targets

The Resolve Political Monitor shows that 43 per cent of voters opposed the vehicle emission plan when asked about the policy in its original form.

www.smh.com.au

Labor deportation law rushed through ahead of High Court challenge

People who refuse deportation because they fear persecution will be jailed for up to five years under Labor’s accelerated plans to head off legal challenges.

www.smh.com.au

Two detainees released before bringing cases to court

The freeing of the two men, who had their visas revoked over extensive criminal convictions, fuels accusations the government is sidestepping detainee cases that could lead to further mass releases.

www.theage.com.au

Two men who argued they should be freed from immigration detention because they are owed protection have been released before their challenges were heard in court, fuelling accusations the government is sidestepping cases that risk the mass release of detainees.

The men, a Somali and an Iranian, had their visas revoked because of their violent criminal pasts. They were released into the community this month after lodging Federal Court action against their continued custody following last year’s landmark High Court decision outlawing indefinite detention.

 

[farmerge]

Looks like things are getting busy in Canberra.
The polls must be having an effect, one would hope both sides take notice, they both need to lift their game IMO.

Labor’s car plan shifts down a gear as voters lukewarm on carbon targets

The Resolve Political Monitor shows that 43 per cent of voters opposed the vehicle emission plan when asked about the policy in its original form.

www.smh.com.au

Labor deportation law rushed through ahead of High Court challenge

People who refuse deportation because they fear persecution will be jailed for up to five years under Labor’s accelerated plans to head off legal challenges.

www.smh.com.au

Two detainees released before bringing cases to court

The freeing of the two men, who had their visas revoked over extensive criminal convictions, fuels accusations the government is sidestepping detainee cases that could lead to further mass releases.

www.theage.com.au

Two men who argued they should be freed from immigration detention because they are owed protection have been released before their challenges were heard in court, fuelling accusations the government is sidestepping cases that risk the mass release of detainees.

The men, a Somali and an Iranian, had their visas revoked because of their violent criminal pasts. They were released into the community this month after lodging Federal Court action against their continued custody following last year’s landmark High Court decision outlawing indefinite detention.

So we now have to hardened criminals roaming freely about the burbs.

 

[farmerge]

I guess we also have our share of these cretins roaming around here in WA.

 

[wayneL]

I guess we also have our share of these cretins roaming around here in WA.

This insulting to cretins

 

[wayneL]

In case you didn't know, we plebeians do have the power, if only we understood that.

https://www.news.com.au/technology/motoring/utes-suvs-face-weaker-pollution-caps-as-albanese-government-waters-down-fuel-efficiency-standards/news-story/0678ab5b0a0969b3d7bc5d2adf71102e