Australias flood tax
Discussion
I quite like the "pay as you go" approach - Australia's economy is still growing, so what better time to levy a tax?
No doubt in the UK they'd just stick a penny on a litre of fuel as teh flooding was due to "dangerous carbon tax".
I've also noticed that the newer countries seem to be a bit more willing to pull together - I guess something to do with the frontier dpirit of their founders?
No doubt in the UK they'd just stick a penny on a litre of fuel as teh flooding was due to "dangerous carbon tax".
I've also noticed that the newer countries seem to be a bit more willing to pull together - I guess something to do with the frontier dpirit of their founders?
Victor McDade said:
It's a good idea given the circumstances, 0.5% on salaries between 50-100k and 1% on 100k+. However, we all know that 'temporary' taxes never are. Governments always find ways to make them permanent.
And to continually increase themEdited by Victor McDade on Thursday 27th January 08:43
A Queenslander said....
"The Bligh government, like the now-gone Brumby regime in Victoria, chose to throw billions at desal plants and must accept some direct responsibility for the scale of this disaster.
The global warming industry said There ain’t no more big rains coming – clearly ignoring the cycles that had been noted by previous generations.
Didn’t we all learn that poem in school? “Droughts and flooding rains”?
Dorothea Mackellar turned out to be a better weather forecaster than Tim Flannery."
"The Bligh government, like the now-gone Brumby regime in Victoria, chose to throw billions at desal plants and must accept some direct responsibility for the scale of this disaster.
The global warming industry said There ain’t no more big rains coming – clearly ignoring the cycles that had been noted by previous generations.
Didn’t we all learn that poem in school? “Droughts and flooding rains”?
Dorothea Mackellar turned out to be a better weather forecaster than Tim Flannery."
Victor McDade said:
It's a good idea given the circumstances, 0.5% on salaries between 50-100k and 1% on 100k+. However, we all know that 'temporary' taxes never are. Governments always find ways to make them permanent.
It has been written with a definite end date of 12 months after the start. Edited by Victor McDade on Thursday 27th January 08:43
But that could always be extended.
A lot of people are up in arms about it, but for me I don't see the drama at all.
It's on taxable income anyway, not on salary. So that's minus the tax free threshold and minus any deductions. I think I'll only be paying around $160 a year based on that, which is one night out in Sydney, basically.
Colonial said:
It has been written with a definite end date of 12 months after the start.
But that could always be extended.
A lot of people are up in arms about it, but for me I don't see the drama at all.
It's on taxable income anyway, not on salary. So that's minus the tax free threshold and minus any deductions. I think I'll only be paying around $160 a year based on that, which is one night out in Sydney, basically.
Quite, it all has to be paid for somehow. There are countless businesses and home owners with no way of covering their losses because the local insurers do not cover flood damage. The roads need fixing, drains repaired, streets cleaned and tourism needs to start again ASAP.But that could always be extended.
A lot of people are up in arms about it, but for me I don't see the drama at all.
It's on taxable income anyway, not on salary. So that's minus the tax free threshold and minus any deductions. I think I'll only be paying around $160 a year based on that, which is one night out in Sydney, basically.
I think people are worried that the tax will either not be taken away or the gummint will not be transparent enough about where the money is going.
I get the pineapple inserted sans lube every year by the medicare levy which is 1.5% and this will be taking it up to 2%. But personally, I am happy to pay this ongoing if it means we can store save some money up for when the plop hits the fan the next time. I'd only waste it on hats or hookers anyway. Its not their fault they are banana bending cane toad lovers and jebus decided they needed a shower for the first time since 1974.
The only ones whinging about it are the media and opposition partay trying to rally a story to gather a waning publics interest in a natural disaster that has gone on longer than a week. Those poor mexicans down south are in the middle of a flood but the flood appeal concerts are already over and Lee Kernahan has already packed up his guitar.
The only ones whinging about it are the media and opposition partay trying to rally a story to gather a waning publics interest in a natural disaster that has gone on longer than a week. Those poor mexicans down south are in the middle of a flood but the flood appeal concerts are already over and Lee Kernahan has already packed up his guitar.
What about the people who have more than generously contributed to the relief fund that was setup at the time? Will they be allowed to offset that against this levy? Of course not! I think they will find people much less generous next time something like this happens, and they will wait to see whether the government will sting them before voluntarily contributing.
When I moved to Aus in 1998 I was shocked at the tax rate - 48.5% including the medicare levy. Gradually this came down, the bands got widened and other things such as dividend imputation and the fact that one could deduct work related expenses etc meant it didnt seem so bad. I think the higher rate is now 45%+ medicare so 46.5% - a full 5% less than the UK higher rate + NI and you can still deduct all those work related expenses in Aus (new briefcase anybody..?). With the current exchange rate salaries in Aus are now higher than they are in the UK - that certainly wasnt the case 13 years ago. Might be time to consider a move back!
robm3 said:
I have no problem paying it, as someone said earlier, it's one night out.
Life here is good, so happy to muck in and help a fellow aussie who's life isn't so good at the mo.
Pretty much my take on it too, I'd rather us all pay and get rid of some stupid eco projects in the mix too. Can't wait for the enquiry to prove that having the dam at capacity basically shafted Brisvegas due to "environmental" concerns including the horrendous amount of money spent on desal plants and pipelines to nowhere. Hopefully the rest of the population will wake up to the scam that green projects are in this country and vote more informed next election.Life here is good, so happy to muck in and help a fellow aussie who's life isn't so good at the mo.
williaa68 said:
When I moved to Aus in 1998 I was shocked at the tax rate - 48.5% including the medicare levy. Gradually this came down, the bands got widened and other things such as dividend imputation and the fact that one could deduct work related expenses etc meant it didnt seem so bad. I think the higher rate is now 45%+ medicare so 46.5% - a full 5% less than the UK higher rate + NI and you can still deduct all those work related expenses in Aus (new briefcase anybody..?). With the current exchange rate salaries in Aus are now higher than they are in the UK - that certainly wasnt the case 13 years ago. Might be time to consider a move back!
exactly. My taxable income is at 37% off my income above the tax free threshold. But, with the generous deductions allowed it comes down sharply - for example, you can take out a lease on a car which is taken out of you pre-tax income, which reduces your taxable income further.
Basically, my life is good, and I'm not going to notice the money go out, so I'm not going to begrudge the reasoning behind it.
robm3 said:
I have no problem paying it, as someone said earlier, it's one night out.
Life here is good, so happy to muck in and help a fellow aussie who's life isn't so good at the mo.
We need more of that spirit in the UK instead of the selfish 'i'm all right. See who i can sue today' brigade.Life here is good, so happy to muck in and help a fellow aussie who's life isn't so good at the mo.
I have a bit of of a problem helping out the feckless who spend the cash on beer & booze then whine for donations if it goes tits up.
But where the impact and scale is so great 'ie the aussie floods or Boscastle/cumbria floods in the Uk then hopefully the country (stolen from another thread) will step up to the plate with quality help.
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 28th January 09:39
Victor McDade said:
It's a good idea given the circumstances, 0.5% on salaries between 50-100k and 1% on 100k+. However, we all know that 'temporary' taxes never are. Governments always find ways to make them permanent.
Are you sure? Edited by Victor McDade on Thursday 27th January 08:43
Its quite far from a good idea. Let *everyone* pay a small percentage. The poor pay nothing and the rich pay a lot. Now that is proper solidarity. Its a typical left-wing Government tactic to only hit those who would never vote labor/labour anyway.Alternatively, cut wasteful expenditure elsewhere (desal plants for example) instead of disincentivising the successful working population from working harder.
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