Category Archives: Tax

Newman Government to cut stamp duty and weaken ULDA

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Gene Tunny

A change in Government in Queensland now appears inevitable. Opposition Leader Campbell Newman is treated almost everywhere he goes as if he is the Premier-in-waiting, with business and community leaders listening intently to him, to discern how Newman Government policies … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing, Tax | 1 Comment

Tender for coal exploration permits a good way to help repair budget

Posted on January 14, 2012 by Gene Tunny

The new Henry-Review-inspired tender system for coal exploration permits, announced by Treasurer Fraser on Friday, is a clever, low cost way to raise much needed revenue to help fix the Queensland budget. The Mid Year Fiscal and Economic Review has … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Mining, Tax | Leave a comment

Company super profits tax would cause budgetary problems for Government

Posted on December 7, 2011 by Gene Tunny

I am surprised the Government is even bothering to investigate the possibility of reforming company tax to only tax super profits, similar to the new minerals resource rent tax, as reported here: Swan tax shake-up targets super rich This would … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Tax | 3 Comments

Flow-on impacts of the resources boom

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Ross Gittins has an excellent column in the Age & SMH today on how the benefits of the resources boom flow through the economy: It’s boom time for everyone Gittins points out that NSW and Victoria benefit through the reallocation … Continue reading →

Posted in Mining, Tax | Leave a comment

Stamp duty volatility a risk to the Qld Budget

Posted on October 23, 2011 by Gene Tunny

RP Data’s Cameron Kusher makes some good points regarding the risk to the budget from relying on stamp duty revenue, which varies with the total value of property sales, as reported in the Townsville Bulletin yesterday (Governments facing stamp duty … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Tax, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Contracting out could reduce Govt costs 20% says ex-NSW top bureaucrat

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Gary Sturgess, former NSW top bureaucrat and a driving force behind national competition policy, has published a muscular critique of last week’s tax forum in this morning’s Australian: WE have just had a tax forum largely debating how to raise … Continue reading →

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Now we’re talking about real tax reform

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The late Kerry Packer’s riposte at the 1991 Print Media Inquiry is unfortunately still relevant today: …if anybody in this country doesn’t minimize their tax they want their heads read because as a government I can tell you you’re not … Continue reading →

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Inefficient State taxes

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Gene Tunny

In its position statement for the upcoming Tax Forum (available here) the AI Group has called for an abolition of inefficient State Government taxes such as stamp duty and a hike in the GST to pay for it.  The position … Continue reading →

Posted in Tax | 3 Comments

Retail trading hours restrictions holding back retailers

Posted on August 4, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The Productivity Commission’s report on online retailing, released today, finds the $1,000 GST threshold is only a minor issue and the bigger issues are over-regulation in industrial relations and retail trading hours. The Commission identifies Queensland, SA and WA as … Continue reading →

Posted in Retail trade, Tax | 3 Comments

Families, tradies and small businesses can keep on polluting

Posted on July 3, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Excluding petrol from the carbon tax is good news for people who drive a lot, but means we will all have to pay even higher electricity prices. The Australian reports: “Families, tradies, small business people do not have to worry about a … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate change, Tax, Transport | Leave a comment