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Talking Politics

Problem with this is the reforms that - guess who - Kevin Rudd - engineered to make it much harder for the parliamentary party to dump a leader. Needs some sort of rank and file approval IIRC.
 
Tigers of Old said:
Geez and I thought Abbott was bad. Imagine if that complete loon Trump becomes the next president of the US?
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Thankfully I dont think that'll happen.
 
scottyturnerscurse said:
Newspoll preferred PM:

Turnbull 68
Shorten 15

Bill to be gone within two weeks.
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Care to revise ? Two weeks are up

The trouble for the Labor party is that with the change in their rules replacing shorten is going to be very difficult. They may well leave him there and use him as the sacrificial lamb at the next election because at the moment they have no chance.
 
Interesting tax options to be discussed at COAG have been leaked and it looks like we could have a 1990's style election next time based on GST.

I am not great fan of the LNP but I agree with an increase in the GST as long as a fair compensation package for everyone is arranged. There are some very draconian increases in the medicare levy mooted as well including an increase to 4% immediately and another over 4 years to the same level. You would hope that this money would be fed to the states in increased health funding and there would be an offsett somewhere.

My view has always been that if we increase the GST and offsett that with an increase in the tax free threshold and a reduction in the company tax rate it would be a good thing and we may well collect more tax.

I believe the increase in GST may well be a fait accomplis now.
 
Abbott is still keen on regaining the top position. Sounds like he's trying to win over the Bolt-led loonies like Reclaim Australia. He's our version of Donald Trump.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-societies-cant-remain-in-denial-about-the-massive-problem-within-islam-20151208-gliupg.html
 
The best proof that Abbott is unfit to be PM is the fact he seems to really believe that he was a good one.
 
Sintiger said:
Care to revise ? Two weeks are up

The trouble for the Labor party is that with the change in their rules replacing shorten is going to be very difficult. They may well leave him there and use him as the sacrificial lamb at the next election because at the moment they have no chance.
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Dont know if they have no chance. If that is true it is a sad indictment on the party.
Turnbull is a marked improvement on Abbott. but besides him being a better frontman, it is still the same bad government with the same bad policies.

It will be interesting to see how the infighting plays out, and what happens with Brough, but they are side issues to a government which is not doign a good job governing the country.
 
Brodders17 said:
Dont know if they have no chance. If that is true it is a sad indictment on the party.
Turnbull is a marked improvement on Abbott. but besides him being a better frontman, it is still the same bad government with the same bad policies.

It will be interesting to see how the infighting plays out, and what happens with Brough, but they are side issues to a government which is not doign a good job governing the country.
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I don't disagre except that my view is that the ALP is so rudderless and so devoid of any clear direction that they cannot win the next election. It's just a personal opinion but the only thing Shorten had going for him was that he isn't Abbott and that's gone
I'm not arguing the LNP are a great government just what I believe will happen
 
Problem Turnbull has is that to get votes he had to promise not to shift the governments direction to far. If he wins the next election hopefully that gives him enough clout to forge a new path.
 
Sintiger said:
Interesting tax options to be discussed at COAG have been leaked and it looks like we could have a 1990's style election next time based on GST.

I am not great fan of the LNP but I agree with an increase in the GST as long as a fair compensation package for everyone is arranged. There are some very draconian increases in the medicare levy mooted as well including an increase to 4% immediately and another over 4 years to the same level. You would hope that this money would be fed to the states in increased health funding and there would be an offsett somewhere.

My view has always been that if we increase the GST and offsett that with an increase in the tax free threshold and a reduction in the company tax rate it would be a good thing and we may well collect more tax.

I believe the increase in GST may well be a fait accomplis now.
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Sin, I think you have been reading the 'benefits of a 15% GST' handbook from the Libs.

While it includes a bit too much 'hate mongering', of sorts' this article has some good points - http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/nov/06/the-coalition-can-try-to-sell-a-gst-increase-but-australians-wont-buy-it

And a good one from a pensioner - https://newmatilda.com/2015/11/11/a-rise-in-the-gst-a-personal-perspective-from-a-pensioner-on-the-firing-line/

And https://newmatilda.com/2015/11/06/dont-swallow-it-a-gst-hike-is-not-about-efficiency/

IMO there is massive spin going on from the Govt, which has even been let slip earlier this week. While I was previously on-side for a 2.5% increase in the GST, I know see that there are MANY other options which will raise billions, that only come from those with money/ investments, instead of the rich and poor.

One classic example is Sanitarium. Here is a cult/ church who has a profitable 'business' but is able to avoid any tax because it has 'achieved' 'religious' status. WTF? Why does being a 'religion' mean that any side 'business' you create is able to not pay tax? Disgraceful!

For me the 5% GST hike shift, the govt wants, is a real loser for most Australian's and that the Govt should look at all the other money that is being remitted overseas by HUGE business, along with other areas such as the 'no tax on religious entities business earnings'... and there are plenty more besides.
 
Aus needs massive tax reform from the ground up. Too many loopholes, too many deductions, too many allowances. Middle class welfare is rampant.

Unfortunately any party that tries to do that while in a 3 year term is writing their death notice.

I wonder if a bi-partisan yet independent commission can be set-up to go and rework the taxation in Aus and make it law regardless of the party in power?
 
Baloo said:
Aus needs massive tax reform from the ground up. Too many loopholes, too many deductions, too many allowances. Middle class welfare is rampant.

Unfortunately any party that tries to do that while in a 3 year term is writing their death notice.

I wonder if a bi-partisan yet independent commission can be set-up to go and rework the taxation in Aus and make it law regardless of the party in power?
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I like the idea and would be really interesting to see if such a thing could garner bi-partisan support... Just seems to be too many vested interests, on all sides of politics, to get such a thing going. A bit like the non-even of a Federal ICAC.
 
K3 said:
Sin, I think you have been reading the 'benefits of a 15% GST' handbook from the Libs.

While it includes a bit too much 'hate mongering', of sorts' this article has some good points - http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/nov/06/the-coalition-can-try-to-sell-a-gst-increase-but-australians-wont-buy-it

And a good one from a pensioner - https://newmatilda.com/2015/11/11/a-rise-in-the-gst-a-personal-perspective-from-a-pensioner-on-the-firing-line/

And https://newmatilda.com/2015/11/06/dont-swallow-it-a-gst-hike-is-not-about-efficiency/

IMO there is massive spin going on from the Govt, which has even been let slip earlier this week. While I was previously on-side for a 2.5% increase in the GST, I know see that there are MANY other options which will raise billions, that only come from those with money/ investments, instead of the rich and poor.

One classic example is Sanitarium. Here is a cult/ church who has a profitable 'business' but is able to avoid any tax because it has 'achieved' 'religious' status. WTF? Why does being a 'religion' mean that any side 'business' you create is able to not pay tax? Disgraceful!

For me the 5% GST hike shift, the govt wants, is a real loser for most Australian's and that the Govt should look at all the other money that is being remitted overseas by HUGE business, along with other areas such as the 'no tax on religious entities business earnings'... and there are plenty more besides.
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I haven't been reading any handbook from anyone, certainly not the Libs. I have always favoured indirect taxation rather than income and company tax simply because it is harder to avoid. One simple solution would be to increase the gst and increase the tax free threshold (with some small changes to other bands) and reduce the company tax rate. Everyone consumes and therefore everyone pays tax. If you predominately just change the tax free threshold and the lower bands lower income earners will get a greater % income rise to compensated for their greater % cost of living rise.
Non taxpayers like pensioners etc would get compensated by benefit increases. MNCs have less incentive to profit shift to lower tax regimes because we become one, we would actually collect more company tax from overseas companies imo.
The argument that it hurts loẃer imcome earners more is about compensation. GSTs work because there is no avoiding it, everyone consumes.
This is probably more Liberal policy than Labor policy but I couldn't care leas about the politics. More interested in results.
 
Sintiger said:
I haven't been reading any handbook from anyone, certainly not the Libs. I have always favoured indirect taxation rather than income and company tax simply because it is harder to avoid. One simple solution would be to increase the gst and increase the tax free threshold (with some small changes to other bands) and reduce the company tax rate. Everyone consumes and therefore everyone pays tax. If you predominately just change the tax free threshold and the lower bands lower income earners will get a greater % income rise to compensated for their greater % cost of living rise.
Non taxpayers like pensioners etc would get compensated by benefit increases. MNCs have less incentive to profit shift to lower tax regimes because we become one, we would actually collect more company tax from overseas companies imo.
The argument that it hurts loẃer imcome earners more is about compensation. GSTs work because there is no avoiding it, everyone consumes.
This is probably more Liberal policy than Labor policy but I couldn't care leas about the politics. More interested in results.
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When the GST was brought in the Libs promised a range of reforms, including getting rid of Stamp Duty; how did that go?

In the 80s, in NSW, they brought in a 'petrol tax', which I think was 4c. This was to cover an 'at the time' issue. Guess what is still around and boosting the Govt's coffers?

I have 0 faith that with an increase in the GST, the Govt will stick to the 'compensatory' measures promised, let alone any extra revenue being directed into Health Services or Education. Also, there is a report out that clearly states that once the 'low income earners' have been compensated, there won't be much 'newly raised' money to put towards all of the areas the Govt is bleating about adding to.

As they saying goes... When it walks, smells and like a political beast it probably is.

Would much prefer to see some of the outcomes, from the previous few tax 'summits', considered more seriously.
 
Baloo said:
Isn't Stamp Duty a State Tax and it was the states that reneged ?
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Yep is a state tax mate and I believe it was the states which pulled the pin to various degrees; since it was ingrained, why not just keep the extra cash? Same with the petrol tax mentioned, obviously.

Once the citizenry is used to a cost/ tax governments are loathe to remove them down the track.
 
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