I agree with all except maybe just broadening the GST base instead of raising it, and encouraging the states to introduce a land tax and get rid of the stupid stamp duties, especially on insurance.
When people talk about broadening the base I see that as implementing what would be an extremely regressive tax on the poor. I really wouldn't want to see basic food being taxed.
No arguments about stamp duties, state government revenue is far too exposed to the ups and downs of the property market.
The problem is that spending on non GST goods and services is rising faster than GDP, so to leave it out means the current GCT base is part of a diminishing share of the economy.
I can sort of understand exempting food, or maybe we need to follow the UK and have a couple of rates for GST with the "essentials" at 10% and the rest at a higher rate.
Is it really food though or healthcare? If it's healthcare then a good place to start might be shifting more people into private health care, not through the carrot approach of paying for it but by saying if you earn over $x/year then you need to have private health insurance. The Medicare levy is far too low, especially now that it has been saddled with the burden of the NDIS.
I really don't like all these piecemeal changes that gutless governments have taken to. If reports are correct, it looks like I will be on a marginal rate of 50% thanks to Tony.
I never got my $900 either.
I'm not sold on private healthcare. The US experience shows it can provide poorer services at higher cost than the public system.
Personally I'd prefer to see more imput from nurses taken on board as to how to drive efficiency gain, along with better use of technology. Certainly could look to some of the best practices from the private sector in India and US. Private healthcare in Australia is more about queue jumping that relieving demand in the public sector.
yes, political ticker is in short supply these days.
His spiel about not breaking his pre election promise is just painful. I have more respect for someone who says I made a mistake, and this is what I'm going to do to make it right, than the person who spends all their effort trying defend the indefensible.
Meaningful tax reform rather than the crapola band aids we've had for years is what we need.
Yes the Fairfax media are beating it up, as usual.
Any effort to fix the deficit, will obviously be met by Fairfax anti Abbott press. Seems a shame they don't appear to put Australia first.IMO
Tony Abbott has relented on some of his PPL scheme under pressure no doubt from within his own party and perhaps from some of the independents.
It has now been capped at $50,000.
Under the current economic circumstances, I would have preferred the whole scheme be abandoned altogether.
But at least it will stop Bill Shorten raving on as though every woman having a baby was to have received $75,000.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nat...cutoff-to-100000/story-fn59niix-1226900259004
The PPL was Abbott's 'signature policy'. It may have won him the election. If he's now going to back down and break his promise on this then if he had any decency he would resign as PM.
The PPL was Abbott's 'signature policy'. It may have won him the election. If he's now going to back down and break his promise on this then if he had any decency he would resign as PM.
Actually I think he would have won with a bigger margin if he had not taken it to the election.
He will get more kudos than criticism if he drops it all together irrespective of the "broken promise" factor.
He'll get kudos from the business sector and some in his own party, but whether the electorate will forgive him is another matter.
They didn't forgive Gillard for the carbon tax
Nonsense. The electorate" hates the PPL. They would say "good riddance" if he dropped it all together.
I agree that it's a disgrace but some of the numbers getting thrown around in the media are I would suggest nonsense. There's no way the government is going to slug someone who earns $80k an additional $800 tax (1%) at the point of reaching that income.The 'deficit levy' is a disgrace. If you're going to impose a significant increase in income taxes at least give more than a couple of months warning, and proper justification for it. Our deficit and government debt levels are low by international standards, if it's so concerning scrap the Parental Leave scheme, don't spend $12 billion on planes and tighten up Age Pension asset test and indexing. Income tax is already growing every year via bracket creep.
It's short term wealth transfer from middle/upper class workers to middle/upper class who choose to give birth, and can probably afford it without government assistance. Ridiculous and unnecessary from a Government who rattled on about 'not getting in the way of growth' and no new taxes or increase in taxes.
Most of my friends are around 30 years and earning 70-110k. Most have a significant HECS debt. This means you lose 7-8% of gross salary to HECS repayments, potentially 1% to Deficit levy and 23-30% in regular income tax.
It's a bit much!!
The Abbott government is likely to introduce the tax at a low level for incomes near $100,000, then gradually increase it with income to avoid a sudden step-up in tax. The tax will likely stop climbing when it hits 2 per cent.
He will get more kudos than criticism if he drops it all together irrespective of the "broken promise" factor.
What's your basis for saying that ? Never get between a voter and a bucket of money.
Should Tony Abbott ditch his paid parental leave scheme?
No. Parental leave should be paid at a person's full wage. 5%
Yes. The country can't afford it. 55%
No. We need to help parents in the workforce as much as we can. 0%
Yes. The current parental leave scheme is adequate. 38%
Nonsense. The electorate" hates the PPL. They would say "good riddance" if he dropped it all together. Direct Action on climate change is another stupid policy promise he should drop.
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