GST won't be part of tax reform: Chris Bowen      :)

    by: LAUREN WILSON
    From: The Australian
    July 07, 2013


TREASURER Chris Bowen has ruled out reviewing the base or rate of the GST, despite stating the need for further discussions with the states on tax reform.

Speaking on Sky News' Australian Agenda, the newly-appointed Treasurer said Australia's taxation system could be made more efficient, but a rethink of the GST was not on the table.      :)

“I don't think there is a case for increasing the GST and I don't think there is a case for broadening the base,” Mr Bowen said.      :)

“I think there is a case for talking to the states about a more efficient tax system and reducing the number of taxes we have in Australia which don't raise very much money but are a compliance burden for business and an administrative burden for government,” he said.

“That is a very important discussion to be had.”

Since returning to the Prime Ministership, Kevin Rudd has pledged to develop a better working relationship with the business community.

Mr Bowen said Labor would also be a party that looks after small business, but he would not comment on whether the Rudd government would look to give small business tax relief in the medium term.

“I think the approach both the Prime Minister and I would take would be a pro-small business approach,” he said.

“We want the Labor Party to be, frankly, a party that small business is comfortable with because we see small business as the engine room of the economy.”

Mr Bowen reiterated that he was not looking to make changes to the government's fiscal parameters, as outlined in the May budget handed down by former Treasurer Wayne Swan, which has Australia returning to surplus in 2015-16.

“The budget remains the government's budget - it is treasurer Swan's budget but I stand by it as the new treasurer,” he said.

An all encompassing tax review yet leave out an all encompassing tax?

Yet again playing politics with economic management.
Didn't they learn from their ballsed up handling of the Henry review which was mismanaged because of politics?

Increase GST, Cut direct tax, cut welfare, cut foreign aid.
That simple.

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Jul 7^th, 2013 at 2:25pm:

An all encompassing tax review yet leave out an all encompassing tax? Yet again playing politics with economic management. Didn't they learn from their ballsed up handling of the Henry review which was mismanaged because of politics? Increase GST, Cut direct tax, cut welfare, cut foreign aid. That simple.

They already cut direct tax and increased a consumer based one.  It was called a carbon tax.

If you increase the GST those on the lowest incomes are hit the hardest as the tax free threshold is now $18,200.  It would directly punish those on incomes less than that with no compensation measures

My tax cut would have been $3 Verge.

That's the tax cut you're talking about?

The 5c per week I would have got in Australia??

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Jul 7^th, 2013 at 8:14pm:

My tax cut would have been $3 Verge. That's the tax cut you're talking about? The 5c per week I would have got in Australia??

On your salary why do you need a tax cut?

Ive never got one either, but Im not begrudging those that need it more than what I do.

Why do I need one?

Because I spend my own money a fkload better than the Government do.

The amount of tax in Australia for my salary range is $10,000 more than I pay in the USA.

Where the bugger is that money going?

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Jul 7^th, 2013 at 8:23pm:

Why do I need one? Because I spend my own money a fkload better than the Government do. The amount of tax in Australia for my salary range is $10,000 more than I pay in the USA. Where the bugger is that money going?

Considering you didnt pay any last time you were here you have a bit of a hide to complain about paying anything, all the while collecting your baby bonus

Actually you'll find mate I paid $4,000 per month in PAYE.

It was only after the Corporation offsets and double tax relief come June that it worked out to be a lower figure.

I have every right to complain about a system which demands I pay for private healthcare, get no relief for it, then has me pay for some dropkick to get healthcare for free at my expense.

That demands I pay 45% of my salary in tax yet hands benefits to those who pay in nothing?

That demands I pay 4 times more than others for the same services as people who pay nothing.

You wonder why many in my office in California refer to Australia as "a bunch of fking commies"??

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Jul 7^th, 2013 at 8:32pm:

Actually you'll find mate I paid $4,000 per month in PAYE. It was only after the Corporation offsets and double tax relief come June that it worked out to be a lower figure. I have every right to complain about a system which demands I pay for private healthcare, get no relief for it, then has me pay for some dropkick to get healthcare for free at my expense. That demands I pay 45% of my salary in tax yet hands benefits to those who pay in nothing? That demands I pay 4 times more than others for the same services as people who pay nothing. You wonder why many in my office in California refer to Australia as "a bunch of fking commies"??

Wow, you really are a self centered rightious prick.

Probably because in this country we care about all the people and try and shorten the gap between rich and poor by providing basic services.

Considering the state of the american economy I find it amusing you are still bragging about how much better it is there.  Once again, only thinking about yourself.

The state of the American economy?

The Australian and US economy are heading in different directions right now.

Have a guess, just a wild one, why the FX rate has gone in just 3 months from 1.08 to 0.89?

And if you start talking about income earners in the $150-200k bracket as "Rich" then you really are falling for that tonne of class war horse sh*t I see and hear so much.

Rich people do not have a mortgage. I had a $4k per month one.

Rich people do not budget for holidays.

Rich people do not calculate how much schooling will be v other areas.

Rich people are David Beckham who was on $210,000 per week.

I was on the same figure per year. Therefore Beckham earned 52 times what I did.

Middle income is not rich.


PS - David Beckham paid 19% income tax according to the latest PWC declaration in the court case.

Quote:

... the newly-appointed Treasurer said Australia's taxation system could be made more efficient, but a rethink of the GST was not on the table. “I don't think there is a case for increasing the GST and I don't think there is a case for broadening the base” , Mr Bowen said.

For consideration ...

Broadening the GST base, increasing the percentage ( ... with an income-tax reduction) is a move toward a FLAT rate of taxation - for rich and for poor

Hit HARDEST - would be AGED pensioners, DISABLED pensioners and CARERS
As all of these are income-tax exempt - there is no "carrot" by way of income-tax relief

Just a GREATER GST SLUG


ANOTHER situation that will have to be dealt with eventually, is the gradual erosion of GST receipts with the growing trend for off-shore online shopping - threatening the whole system
I find myself shopping off-line more frequently
Not just on PRICE - but increasingly so on AVAILABILITY
My latest being John Steinbeck's autobiographical short story - "Travels with Charley" - an example of a product unavailable ( ... and for the most part, never heard of) by book retailers in Australia

Flatenning tax is not a bad thing.

It should never be a policy to penalise people who achieve and reward those who drop out.

Everyone has a chance in life, its up to you whether you allow those challenges to defeat you or make you.

The job of funding a country should not fall on one demographic.

Australia unfortunately has too many non contributors.
The prior poster being one example.

I see Andrei has managed to do his usual and turn this thread into a thread about nothing....him. Am I the only person that believes Andrei's so called life is a figment of a sad little try hard?

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Jul 7^th, 2013 at 9:27pm:

Flatenning tax is not a bad thing. It should never be a policy to penalise people who achieve and reward those who drop out. Everyone has a chance in life, its up to you whether you allow those challenges to defeat you or make you. The job of funding a country should not fall on one demographic. Australia unfortunately has too many non contributors. The prior poster being one example.

It should never be a policy to penalise people who achieve and reward those who drop out.

Nor should it be policy to penalise those who are worst off for the benefit of those who are doing well.

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Jul 7^th, 2013 at 8:46pm:

And if you start talking about income earners in the $150-200k bracket as "Rich" then you really are falling for that tonne of class war horse sh*t I see and hear so much. Middle income is not rich.

How many times does it need to be pointed out that the $150-200k bracket is THREE to FOUR times the "middle income" in the developed world - and in the TOP 5% of all incomes
Take a reality check

You ARE ( ... relatively) RICH ( ... alongside 95% of the population)

GST should be 15% and on everything (no exemptions) just as John Hewson's Fightback policy proposed.

Had the Australian voter not been totally conned by Paul Keating's and Labor's last ditch desperate grap for power in 1993 the GST tax take would have been more than 50% more for almost the last 20 years.  That would have been $22.9 Billion dollars just in FY2012.


buzzanddidj wrote on Jul 7^th, 2013 at 9:00pm:

Hit HARDEST - would be AGED pensioners, DISABLED pensioners and CARERS As all of these are income-tax exempt - there is no "carrot" by way of income-tax relief Just a GREATER GST SLUG

This statement is naive.

Yes AGED pensioners, DISABLED pensioners and CARERS
would pay more GST (5% more) but there would be significantly more funding available for increased welfare as well as funding for hospitals and schools. As always the lion's share of tax including GST is paid by high income earners.

Therefore welfare dependent people arguably would benefit significantly more from an increased GST.


Quote:

TREASURER Chris Bowen has ruled out reviewing the base or rate of the GST, despite stating the need for further discussions with the states on tax reform

Labor just don't want to admit that they were actually completely wrong about being totally against the introduction of the GST, that's why it doesn't want to even discuss the issue. ::)

Leaving the GST out of any Tax reform agenda is ridiculous. :-?