Category Archives: Tax

Carbon tax repeal good news for Qld economy

Posted on July 14, 2014 by Gene Tunny

I’m very pleased the Senate will allow the repeal of the carbon tax (Carbon tax to be abolished on third attempt), given that: Queensland would have been disproportionately affected due to our heavy reliance on coal-fired power generation; and it never made … Continue reading →

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Tax and Federation White Papers sound promising on GST and stamp duty

Posted on July 4, 2014 by Gene Tunny

I was very pleased to read in the Courier-Mail this morning that: Speculation is mounting the Abbott Government’s white papers on tax and federation reform, due by the end of next year, will include broadening the GST, and encouraging the … Continue reading →

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Calls for holistic tax and super reform at BDO Budget Breakfast

Posted on May 16, 2014 by Gene Tunny

Accounting and professional services firm BDO has prepared an excellent guide to the 2014-15 Federal Budget Time to Pull on the Reins, which notes “The budget measures continue to tinker around the edges of real tax reform.” This was a major … Continue reading →

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New Treasury modelling supports change in tax mix towards GST

Posted on April 9, 2014 by Gene Tunny

In the latest Commonwealth Treasury Economic Roundup, there is an excellent paper on the economic impacts of company tax. The paper could be viewed as supporting a cut in company tax and replacing the lost revenue with greater GST revenue, either … Continue reading →

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Dr Parkinson right that the GST should be broadened

Posted on April 2, 2014 by Gene Tunny

I was pleased to see the Treasury Secretary, Dr Martin Parkinson, suggest today that the GST should be broadened to cover currently excluded items – i.e. health, education and fresh food (see Fiscal sustainability and living standards – the decade … Continue reading →

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Budget repair challenge means Govt should reject calls to assist Holden and Qantas

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Gene Tunny

I spoke with Pat Hession on ABC North Queensland radio yesterday afternoon on the removal of the Commonwealth Government’s debt ceiling, effectively its “credit card limit” as Pat described it. I made the following points: I’m disappointed the debt ceiling … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Industry policy, Tax | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Grattan joins fight against stamp duty

Posted on October 21, 2013 by Gene Tunny

Leading Australian think tank the Grattan Institute has joined the fight against stamp duty on property transactions (see Renovating housing policy and Jessica Irvine’s article). Grattan notes (on p.32): Stamp duty and pension asset tests create large disincentives to households … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing, Labour market, Tax | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Qld Government should maximise revenue from casinos

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Gene Tunny

It’s great news the Queensland Government is intending to increase the number of casino licences (see this ABC News report), given the boost this could give to tourism and the Queensland budget. I’ve previously commented that there is: Scope to … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Macroeconomy, Tax, Tourism | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

NQ worried about NT plan

Posted on August 16, 2013 by Gene Tunny

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill is rightly critical of the Prime Minister’s proposed special economic zone in the Northern Territory, in which a lower rate of company tax would apply. As reported in the Townsville Bulletin this morning (Economic zone plan … Continue reading →

Posted in North Queensland, Tax, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Scope to raise more revenue from gambling and cut bad taxes

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Gene Tunny

In making his case for getting Brisbane’s second casino licence, James Packer observed last week (according to the Courier-Mail): “Brisbane and Queensland have been badly let down by Echo – they have under-invested and underperformed. Queensland taxpayers are missing out … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Tax | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments