Bill Griggs 09/07/10 06:18 PM Report Abuse

The automatic filters set up on here are crap...how can we put forward our message on changes to Tax Laws on section 23AG when we can't even get it accepted because of the filter... Set this up so that content is reviewd by a person... I am sure that these sites aren't that overlaoded with applications to submit content...

Bill Griggs

Bill Griggs 09/07/10 06:24 PM Report Abuse

Also what happened to our other blog with over 1121 supporters.. 2040 yay votes and 442 comments....

Danny 10/07/10 02:56 PM Report Abuse

So is this the new place to ask if they are going to change the 23AG ruling back to the way it was? Will we be included in the rejecting of the Govt mining Tax and other taxes that hurt productivity??

Mike 11/07/10 10:35 AM Report Abuse

Yeah - where's the 23AG blog gone?

BBloke 11/07/10 12:12 PM Report Abuse

Same place as all the other decent ideas and discussions on this website--> Deleted by the Liberal party.

Some were just to hard to address.

Democracy -No!
Dictatorship- Absolutely!
Looks like 3 more years in opposition for a party that just wont listen!

jason 12/07/10 05:35 PM Report Abuse

There is all that however I prefer to think what an outstanding job your energy, and to be fair to the Liberal Party in combination with a site provided by them, created in having a couple of thousand participants!

I would write that one down as a success!

Gary FitzGerald 13/07/10 08:10 AM Report Abuse

How about wording the question so that a proper tax can be supported. We haven't had royalty increases for years so a increase in the return on assets for the Australian people is warranted.

The question is whether the government are implementing a worthwhile tax properly.

Bill Griggs 14/07/10 05:01 AM Report Abuse

I had a reply from Ian Macfarlane in response to an email I sent him about our concerns over the changes to section 23AG expat tax ruling and it's affect on our ability to earn a living overseas, and which in turn he sent on to Joe Hockey and Andrew Robb...
Thanks Ian and I hope that there is a push from with-in the Liberal Party to resurrect this Ruling for proper Debate and Discussion when this failed Socialist Govt is sent packing...
and yes Jason..thanks for your thoughts on our blog...it was a success and a focus point for us to have our say.

Jac 14/07/10 06:28 PM Report Abuse

Ian Macfarlane, just rang me himself direct. Yeah a politician who at least will talk direct to the voters. He has promised to bring up the 23AG expat tax ruling with Joe Hocking again. DO NOT GIVE UP. Now is the time to push the libs for a straight answer to our concerns, make them aware how many votes are riding on it. He tells me the libs didn't support the changes.

Trevor Targett 15/07/10 07:49 AM Report Abuse

The Libs need to prosecute Labor lies over the mining tax and it's effect on the budget.

When announced, Swan stated that without it, the forecast budget surpluses won't happen. Now, despite the rate being reduced by a quarter, and a doubling of the margin from which it takes effect, Labor have announced a $3 billion surplus in 2013.

How can this be? Was Swan wrong when he promised the sky would fall in if the tax didn't pass 'as is'? Or did our Treasurer get his math wrong?

We now find that how Labor do the math has changed. Treasury no longer include GDP measures that 1st year Economics students know are essential.

Thanks to a change in the calculations, the nation's income has risen, while its expenses have decreased = a surplus.

The Libs need to go hard on this issue...because most people out there think the Govt did the right thing with it's stimulus (the Libs could also prosecute that point. The Govt loves to use a graph showing the amount of 'growth' of the g20 countries since the stimulus'. Unfortunately for those interested in the truth, that graph shows only 9 countries - the economies of the other 11, whose Govt's also spent on massive stimulus', have gone backwards (hence Swan's boast that Australia was the only nation to avoid recession). If the Libs told the truth on the mining tax and its effects, and on the economy as a whole, Labor would be banished to the political wilderness for years.

Neil Crombie 15/07/10 09:05 AM Report Abuse

How can they just delet eour blog on 23AG? I have always voted liberal but have decided not to vote this year.
Lift your socks up liberals! How can we even think you guys will do anything for us if you can't even maintain our blog on your webpage?

John Payne 16/07/10 09:38 PM Report Abuse

How can the Libs delete the biggest blog and supported subject it would seem ever? does this mean that Ian McFarlane and others and just a load of BS? Does this mean you will support the great big expat worker tax grab? If the election is called tomorrow you need to think about the 1 million expat Australians and tens of thousands of us affected by the ruling who will simply refrain from voting. So the big question is Are you different to Rudd/Gillard or a modified version of them? right now its hard to tell! On this subject its one thing to say you didnt support the changes and its another to say you will repeal it. Which is it? If you support it congratulations on endorsing the single greatest shift of highly skilled people overseas in a generation along with the massive capital outflow with them. Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and a few others also thank you for giving their economy a great shot in the arm as the expat exodus benefits them.

Murray Thomas 16/07/10 11:05 PM Report Abuse

A new blog on the 23 AG Tax ruling should be allowed, the changes are hurting many thousands honest hard working Australians abroad, the people bringing in millions of dollars to this country, scarifying family life at home, many have borrowed money for investments on their take home salary before the change and have suddenly almost without notice had a huge loss of net income, changing exchange rates adding to the pain. The expatiate worker is a valuable resource of skilled labour, sharing our skills and a little aussie humour with countless foreign nationals, we are the real Australian ambassadors. In a way the Australian expat is a renewable resource generating wealth for Australia, if it were any other renewable resource there would be huge tax breaks, even the loopy greens would support it...

Squigs 17/07/10 03:29 AM Report Abuse

I cant beleave the blog on 23ag has gone and its not part of these new ideas when it had such a huge support !!!!!

LISTEN TO WHO VOTES FOR YOU !!!!!

Neil Crombie 17/07/10 09:47 AM Report Abuse

Well Guys I have started a website for excactly that reason, http://aussieexpattax.webs.com/
I am not gaining much momentum though. I know your there Squigs. Thanks Mate!
Get on there and sign the guest book and go to the "YOUR SAY" page and post your comments. The government cannot delete my site!!! Tell all your expat mates too.
to date we only have 20 members I know there are 1 or 2 more people unhappy about this law than that!!!

Gibbo 17/07/10 10:36 AM Report Abuse

Tony,

In your response to the 23ag post you said to keep up the feedback and then you take away the post....where would you like us to put the feedback????

lemonaro 18/07/10 03:34 PM Report Abuse

What sort of government imposes a "fairer" tax on its expat workers (Sec 23AG) without giving those affected reasonable time to respond or a transitional period? What is fair about the amendment to 23AG? Is it fair that the exemption still applies to soldiers, aid workers and government officials? Yes, I guess it is if you want to make those particular careers attractive to people. After all, find me one person who would want to spend 7months a year away from their families if there wasnt a financial incentive to do so? Don't put expats in the same boat as fat cat executives who live in Spain for 6mths of the year to dodge tax. These expats are working while they are away, paying tax in the country that they earn their income in. If it is fair to demand our expats pay tax in Australia on their foreign income, then it is also fair to tax all those foreign tourists who come here on extended 3-6mth holidays - after all, they too have earned their income overseas. They might be paying their own way, but then the expats have always had too. At some point in time, the number crunchers will realise that the $675m isn't coming, because all the expats have left!

Neil Crombie 18/07/10 09:03 PM Report Abuse

I would urge every one to write to Tony Abbott and tell him you are not voting unless we get some proper feedback on our concerns. I personaly have already done this as I have to about 15 Liberal members. Don't do this unless your serious. I am not voting for any one til I get some answers. Where has our Blog gone?

http://aussieexpattax.webs.com/

Murray Thomas 19/07/10 05:40 PM Report Abuse

The Liberals should make a commitment to review the changes to the 23AG Tax ruling and delay the collection of the tax until the review is finished. Expats play a big role in helping the local people in the mostly developing countries where we work, the industries in which we work generate a lot of desperately needed revenue for their governments. We share our expertise and knowledge with the local people, earning trust and respect which is not easily won. We play a role in moderating some of the extreme views held in those countries and are happy to tell all why Australia is the great place it is.
The process that labor used was inadequate and rushed; I’m very disappointed the coalition supported it through both houses of parliament.

BaSH PR0MPT 20/07/10 03:38 AM Report Abuse

I absolutely am 100% behind Kevin Rudd's previous plan to tax the mining corporations. Just because a couple of our biggest miners had a sook doesn't change the fact that these are Australian assets which, once depleted, are gone for good. If someone said to you, "Hey, look, you've got awesome stuff in your back yard, we'll dig it up and sell it but we'll only give you 30%." you'd laugh in their face. 50/50 is a good fair split, and they're still making many, many, many billions in profit from it.

Ultimately, whilst a few corps had a sad over it, there are thousands of other mining giants who would happily step up regardless of the taxation level. Why? Because there's billions to be made, even with a FAIR deal for securing our minerals and a steady income for our future Australians.

Bob McKay 20/07/10 05:07 PM Report Abuse

At some early stage in the campaign, Mr Abbot needs to show on a noticeboard a graph showing the plummeting shareprices of Australian mining companies after the announcement of the mining tax and the amount of money wiped from the value of mining stocks on the ASX. He needs to reiterate that it is still the same bunch of amateurs with their hands on the levers and emphasise that one of our major trading partners specifically requested that the tax be reviewed.
The question of how such a radical new tax got so far into the implementation stage without anyone in the government actually realising the harmful effect it would have on our mining industry needs to be posed.
Emphasise that it is still the same people including Gillard.

Gibbo 20/07/10 06:25 PM Report Abuse

"The question of how such a radical new tax got so far into the implementation stage without anyone in the government actually realising the harmful effect"

The same way as the 23ag changes spoken about above.....Quickly and Quietly before there is a chance to actually look at the number close enough to see that it is a blunder!!!

Bob Jones 21/07/10 04:19 PM Report Abuse

what are you guys talking about

BBloke 23/07/10 05:48 PM Report Abuse

Probably delete this as soon as the campaign is over... just like they did with the last lot of voter driven ideas that were here before this load of "warm and comfortable cr@p" was put up

geoff mallett 24/07/10 07:28 AM Report Abuse

It's pretty simple maths people. If you increase tax's you increase revenue. There is one problem the mining companies have to still be in this country to get the tax!!!
The mining companies provide thousands upon thousands of jobs in Australia. Most of these people earn up to or over $100,000 a year the tax the Government is get from the employee's of mining has to be a staggering amount! The mining companies should only be taxed as any other company would be tax in this country. I'M NOT A MINE EMPLOYEE AND STILL CAN SEE THE MASSIVE CONTRIBUTIONS THESE MINES HAVE TO OUR COUNTRY. Gready Labor have put themselves in the poo and this seemed an easy way out. Just get someone in government who can really balance a budget!!!

Murray Thomas 24/07/10 06:27 PM Report Abuse

It’s ironic that this government actively encourages skilled Australian expatriates working aboard to become non-residents after abruptly changing the tax laws last year, they and their families are leaving this country by the thousands. At the same time the Government encourages unannounced asylum seekers to come here, its raw deal for Australia, at least the Expats bring millions of dollars of new money, spend it locally and aren’t a burden on society and they too like the miners have to be here to pay the rotten tax, there are alternatives. Expat are voters living in marginal seats, many are prepared to forfeit their vote on this issue. Make a statement saying you will review the 23AG tax ruling changes; there are a lot of votes riding on it.

ALAN 25/07/10 10:04 AM Report Abuse

The most important policy for competitiveness, productivity and growth would be to implement a program of business education in the nations high schools. It is a right of every citizen to know how to start/run a business in a free enterprise economy.

To encourage savings/inestment interest on savings should be exempt from tax, the double taxation of dividends should be ended.

eric 25/07/10 10:59 PM Report Abuse

Julia Gillard let slip in the debate that $10.5 billion revenue from the Mining tax is anticipated-hasn't she been told by Mr.Swan he was $7.5 billion out!No commentator has picked up on that gaffe-come on Libs give her a hard time on this-she is not ready to be PM-she keeps making blunders-you have to ram it home because no one else will especially the media who have her home and hosed as PM-she is going to be a financial disaster -she has no head for figures look at the BER

Neil Crombie 26/07/10 12:10 AM Report Abuse

I am one of those many expats that will not be voting until such time as we have some feedback on Liberals stance on 23AG. I am also one of those many expats that has already moved overseas taking my family, our money, our expenditure and my income with us!

Come on expats show we are serious. Don't just lie down and die!

http://www.aussieexpattax.webs.com/

Kaz 27/07/10 10:55 AM Report Abuse

I a with you BaSH Pompt 100%.

Of course the Mining Companies are going to say "if you increase taxes we won't mine here"... but we all know where there is supply and demand, they will come becuase there will be profits to be made. Of course the Mining Giants are unhappy - they may have to cut the million dollar executive wages by a bit - boo hoo! No one deserves to benefit that much at the expense of the rest of the population.

I'd much rather the Mining Companies be taxed than the other companies like Liberal propose which will effect everyone, the cost of living has risen so much in the past few years already - no more!.

May 27/07/10 12:08 PM Report Abuse

I am conce.rned about both sides of Government conce.aling from the ele.ct.or.@te the re.a.so.ning for continuing freetrade negotiations, with principally America and others, multi-laterally.


continued....

May 27/07/10 12:11 PM Report Abuse

Austra.lian lea.ders.hip requires the cou.r.@.ge to put some li.mi.ts on how much we get inv.ol.ved in these pr.oc.esses. Governments, even mid-level Governments require the cou.r.@.ge to sometimes say no, to protect Australian interests.


continued.....

Murray Thomas 27/07/10 08:49 PM Report Abuse

If there is no commitment to review the 23AG tax ruling, there will be no vote from me!

Squigs 28/07/10 02:28 PM Report Abuse

No vote from me our any other expat on our rig.
Remember Tony that most of us talk to each other and the votes dont look good for you!!!

John H 28/07/10 02:30 PM Report Abuse

Well here's an idea. Remove the the 23AG changes which has affected very many hard working Aussies who bring hard earned dollars into the country.
Have the guts to change what the so called workers party has done to hard working Aussies who work overseas.

john H 28/07/10 02:36 PM Report Abuse

Here's another idea. Just think about all the votes you will lose and labor has already lost because of the changes to 23AG. These hard working aussies who work overseas also have family members who can vote and I'm sure they will be voting against Labor but we also need someone to vote for. Have the guts to change the 23AG tax ruling that Swan and his cronies brought in and you will get our votes. It isn't hard to work out how many votes you can lose or gain.

vic 28/07/10 02:40 PM Report Abuse

4 in this family and friends and relatives wont be voting unless you remove the changes tony. or maybe you still dont read your own policies and values. have the guts to do the right thing.

ditto to what neil said!!

http://aussieexpattax.webs.com/

Neil Crombie 28/07/10 06:20 PM Report Abuse

Thats the spirit guys! My family members are also not voting for anyone, they are all normally Liberal voters. The changes to this law need to be fair changes if any, not just some slap happy tax grab because of reckless spending by the idiots in Power.

Good on ya Vic!

http://aussieexpattax.webs.com/

Bill Griggs 02/08/10 02:30 PM Report Abuse

I have heard that the test case passed through the Tax Dept for allowing a claim on a Hardship allowance which can be paid as part of your salary but is Tax exempt though does attract Fringe benefit Tax if you are employed by an Aussie company.. Tony ans Ian ..it's going to be real close election so you really will need t he support of every voter you can get... we are convincing our family and friends to support us but can you convince us to support you to be the next Government of Australia... show us some committment..

martin hoare 06/08/10 12:20 PM Report Abuse

i think what australians forget to realize is that mining companies do not just pop out of the ground and become billion dollar earners. they all start basically with 2 men and a shovel. then when they do become large companies employing thousands of employees the labor government want their share to recycle into welfare and other spending policies that they think will help our economic stability. they are hopeless!

Christiaan 08/08/10 08:25 PM Report Abuse

I would love some extra tax on the mining Giants - not the players getting into it.

Since the big guys have already AGREED to paying more - great let's stick with that. But don't nail the smaller guys trying to get into it, and creating new operations.

Tony has my vote on everything else, but this opportunity to support local infrastructure, etc, especially in WA, seems too good to just write off.

Come on, the big guys already agreed to paying a fair share - don't just bang in the dustbin!

may puttock 09/08/10 12:10 PM Report Abuse

This is a post I prepared for the ALP, but it is important that we remind ourselves that voting Coalition is more important than just for the economy.

How timely were my remarks on Globalization yesterday?

Well, you may not know that Bruce Grant, co-author of Gareth Evans book, AUSTRALIA'S FORIEGN RELATIONS, gets a guensey in the Faifax press today. ie This is the ALP view, front line and centre. This is the Kevin Rudd, Stephen Smith, Julia Gillard view: The crux of this article is here:------ “The cluster of global institutions such as the United Nations and its agencies do not have direct access to the world's people, who remain under the control of 200 or so national governments.”

The significance of this, is that the UN Rights cabal want to displace STATES, altogether, they want to Institute, by Treaty, Legislation and sanctions, UN Rights over everything.

-----We the people don’t want universalist, one size fits all, UN Rights displacing our responsibility to be descent people, descent human beings. We do not want to be treated as children------The more Human RIGHTS, as Legislation displaces the Individual’s personal responsibility to do the RIGHT THING, the more the community will breakdown.

Personal responsibility is at the heart of what it is to be human, it is at the source of all great Literature and Art, take that away and the creative spirit of humanity is broken, it dies. You have taken away, what it means to be human-----We cannot let this happen.

------We must fight against these universalist and Absolutist bodies like the UN. We must fight against hollow people like Kevin Rudd et al. We have been fighting the simple, one size fits all mentality, throughout the whole 20th Century. We fought off communism and we must continue the fight. The Absolutist tendencies, of Communism are alive and well in the new UN inspired Rights Bodies.



http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/turning-our-backs-on-the-world-20100808-11q5z.html

Bob Tee 10/08/10 05:12 PM Report Abuse

I have read recently that Labor intends to introduce a Carbon Tax if re-elected, regardless of the outcomes of their "Citizens' Assembly". Is there any truth to this?

W Parsons 11/08/10 03:08 PM Report Abuse

The Party (Tony) needs to prosecute the case that the Mining Tax is not only a tax against productivity but also a 30-50% GST in disguise. As the tax is effectively a tax on electricity production, this 30-50% plus on costs will be passed on to consumers in every aspect of life. This means at least a 30-50% rise in the cost of living, growing inflation and greater unemployment. If Labor gets in and with the Greens pulling the strings a carbon tax is inevitable = more electricity rate hikes. Labor lies through it's teeth on your company tax, whereas they plan a back-door tax that is worse than the GST as there is no (B.A.S) through the chain of supply.
Get the message out there our sink to the party's demise!

Neil Crombie 13/08/10 02:32 PM Report Abuse

Come on guys and girls, talk about hurting the economy, you dont have to be an expat to support this cause!

http://aussieexpattax.webs.com/

Murray 24/08/10 12:30 PM Report Abuse

Tony Abbott will need a grand vision if wants to lead this country after the inevitable double disillusion election that’s coming. Tony can make a real change for the better of Australia while driving a wedge into an already divided and wounded political left.
Could Tony see a better future for Australia by harnessing the power of Nuclear Energy?
Queensland has abundant uranium and has the necessary water required for Nuclear power stations, the copious by-product heavy water from Coal Seam Gas production could be cleaned up with nuclear energy and released into the river systems solving the problem of what to do with this near toxic water, the often parched river systems would become drought proof, the black soil planes along these water ways would be opened to a massive expansion in agriculture increasing food production security, to benefit of the regional rural economy. The river systems would be transformed into an environmental master pieces, no longer at the mercy of the unpredictable climate and Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions could actually fall, all without putting a price on carbon and the inflationary effect it would have.
Nuclear power can cleanly generate the energy required to value add our vast deposits of minerals within Australia, these industries would be regulated to the world best environmental and safety standards, the products we export would directly compete with China, except ours would be far more environmentally friendly. We would not be reliant on Coal based power generation, Australia could choose our coal customers more carefully, and assured that it will be used efficiently and having at our control the supply of raw materials that feed our export competitors, insuring that our new industries remain profitable well into the future. Some of our vast coal reserves, particularly where it’s beneath good farm land, could be preserved for a while, should peek oil prove real, our coal reserves can be converted to a liquid fuel until a better alternative is developed for its many vital uses.
The expertise of the mining industry would be needed for the transition to nuclear energy, Universities could be built to feed the essential skills needed and keep Australia at the cutting edge of technology, and these campuses could be in partnership with the new industries. The tax base would soon grow; giving the government the funds for a sharper and stronger defence force while having generous social and humanitarian policies. A whole new modern well planned metropolis could be located near Atherton, relieving the population pressure on our existing cities. Peter Bettie could use his wealth of media charm to promote his home land; in the mean time Bob Hawke could ease the unions concerns over nuclear energy.
The British and our friendly allies may offer their best technology including some of their brightest people to help with the enormous task ahead.
The NIMBY problem should not be an issue; transport of nuclear waste material can be done inland away from urban populations. Strategically the nuclear power stations would be safer located well away from the coastline and people. Australia may even be responsible and moral enough to cash in on safely disposing or reprocessing foreign nuclear waste, this alone could fund his entire grand vision into reality, but that might be stretching it, Tony can solve a real global problem latter.
Tony Abbott may just have a chance of getting a mandate from the Australian people for this but does this action man have the courage to take on what would most probably be political suicide?

yuan 25/08/10 05:31 AM Report Abuse

I voted wrong this election, now I might loss my job because the mining tax. Standing there I so wanted to vote for liberal last weekend, then I looked at the how to vote paper, and saw the face of Tony Abbott. Tony lost you the election and putting all Australians in the hands of country independents. God save us all from Labor and save liberal from Tony

Peter Statham 16/09/10 11:21 PM Report Abuse

I am a large shareholder in these mining companies. The thing that annoys me is the massive salaries they pay employees and CEOs. Who deserves to be paid $800,000 a year for a company whose share price has fallen from $1.20 to $0.02 and has not paid its shareholders a profit?

The way I see the mining tax, is that it is a way that shareholders will finally get some dividends paid back via the government. As a shareholder in a few of the big companies it is interesting to note that Capital gains have been poor and dividends have been lower than had my money been in the bank. As a Voter, taxpayer and shareholder I see the mining tax as a final bit to get my own back!

Shazmafat 27/09/10 09:12 PM Report Abuse

2 measly sentences? How unconvincing.

The mining tax is an excellent idea, and I'm surprised we haven't implemented one sooner. A mining tax definitely won't stop miners mining - as the profit margin is still massive, even with a tax put on the industry.

It won't hurt productivity at all.

Take a look at Finland: http://altonamining.com/about_finland.60.html

Mervyn Jacobi 04/10/10 08:02 AM Report Abuse

Ian, obviously you don't look at what the farmers are saying about the gas operations on the downs, or the imports resulting from the reciprocal trade for our mining exports. The governments are crowing about the wealth they get from this, but the wealth they get is that payed by the costumers of all the comanies buying those foreign goods we used to manufacture before that exporting began. You had better look around, and see how many of the manufacturing industries still exist, I don't think you would find many if any at all. The both parties seem more determined in destroying our economy and the living conditions of the workers including our farmers, I believe they should not be designed to the poorhouse like both parties are and have been doing. Is it the only vision in your eyes that the economy of Australia be completely distroyed?

Mervyn Jacobi 14/10/10 09:36 AM Report Abuse

It is only the traitors in Australia who want to export our non renewable, non value added resources, there has been far too much destruction to our industries already, and it says a lot of these political parties that they haven't raised a whimper, and don't look as if they will. Their brown noses show up bright and strong. If the Parties would kick out their Lawyer Treasurers, we might see some improvement, The Lawyers have shown they certainly don't want a great economy, the get a great thrill with the recession and their brown nose.

Mervyn Jacobi 03/11/10 09:19 AM Report Abuse

I consider it laughable but despicable that Wayne Swan rages about the high salaries and other aspects of bank charges, and many other incidents relating to overcharging of goods and services, after all, over the last five years, he is the one who is responsible for this being able to happen, he and the party have determined the conditions which allow the high salaries and the high cost of goods and services, and when the Liberal party or any other party is in power, they are responsible. They cannot blame “Global” for every fault that the party comes up with, they have to be man enough – or women – and have the integrity and decency to accept their own blame, when it applies. Unfortunately, there is also moron fanatics in every political party who can't see the wrong "their"party does, and when that party makes a decision that really hurts, they blame the other party even if it is a fault brought in by their own party previously. Help us from idiots.

Mervyn Jacobi 03/11/10 09:35 AM Report Abuse

Australia is being forced into the status of "just a 3rd world country" because of the preponderance of exporting our non renewable, non value added resources, and like the natives of that island, to accept cheap gaudy goods in repayment, until our mining resources are depleted. What we need now, is State and Federal Governments - with intelligence, integrity and allegiance to Australia, to pilot us away from these drastic situation where previous party politicans have put us.

Mervyn Jacobi 19/01/11 08:18 AM Report Abuse

The requirements of a constitution.
A constitution is, or should, be the conscience and plans for the continuation of a successful operation of the intention of the committee or political party. Any committee or party who does not have a constitution, has no plans to follow and any of these who have a constitution and fails to honour it, cannot be trusted. All persons wishing to join a party, should have to promise to honour and obey the constitution of the party, so it can be assured that they have no excuse to wander off the ideals of that party. Unfortunately, not one of our political parties obey their own constitution, and have shown that they cannot be trusted.

Andrew Marfleet 09/02/11 07:22 PM Report Abuse

If a super profit tax be imposed it should only be on profits taken out of the country. Money revolving in the economy strengthens the economy but money leaving (and banks are a prime example) is not productive. A tax on money over a certain value leaving Australia may not be unreasonable and could be imposed on banks ad the mining industry thus encouraging investment within Australia.

Andrew Marfleet 11/02/11 09:39 AM Report Abuse

A super profit tax on mining and or the banks may be an idea if itr was imposed on funds going out of the country. Money that revolves in the country shouldn't have it taxed as it moves more efficiently by natural business practice than by handing to Governments to dish out. However money that leaves the country dowesn't do anyone any good.

Mervyn Jacobi 16/02/11 09:10 AM Report Abuse

It should be recognised that these parties who allow our non-renewable, non-value-added resources to be exported and to accept tons and tons of the products our own factories had been manufacturing, to be imported in exchange, are politicians who are not genuine Australians, the fact that they strip thousands of dollars out of the commonwealth kitty for their own personal use, shows that they have no integrity, and most of the decisions made in parliament, show that they have no intelligence, and those fanatics who rave over their imagined "great brilliant" governing, are as valuable as a five cent lolly.

Mervyn Jacobi 20/02/11 11:38 AM Report Abuse

One day, we might get a political party, who creates a really comprehensive constitution and demands that all members have to sign that they will honour and obey the rules of that constitution. we might see at least one party, that has integrity, intelligence, democracy and allegiance to Australia. We haven't got one yet.

Wal of the West 02/03/11 05:19 PM Report Abuse

There is no mileage in arguing that Gillard lied about the carbon tax. Whatever polution Australia is producing is no more than a blip. No tax will stop polution!
There is NO MANDATE of any party for any issue - parties don't win government, they lose government. The only mandate there is is a referendum on which the people decide. Liberals should not forget that John Howard went to an election saying no GST - He gave Australia a GST.
The whole climate change rubbish is to destroy Australia's economy so as to bring in a Communist system, like Russia had.
The Liberal Party needs purging - get the Communists out, they woul be more comfortable in the Labor Party.

thetrureal 06/03/11 11:55 PM Report Abuse

We should back tax the miners from 10 back and have a rate of 60%

Now certainly these groups will kick up a fuss, but eventually they will comply and if they don’t, then we should take over the mining and get 100% of the profits and if that happens then you will see how fast the mining moguls will crawl back.

Let’s face it; if they talk tough in threatening to go somewhere else they would have done it in the first place instead of digging up Australia, but the reality is that we have all the resources and they know it, but it is the majority that don’t know it as there is scare and fear campaigning being forced upon society.

Every day we don’t tax the miners is every day we lose money!

Mervyn Jacobi 26/03/11 10:59 AM Report Abuse

Look back over the last forty years, all the parties who have been in government, have all had a hand in driving the economy down, and both the previous Liberal government and the present Labor one, have both dragged our country into a recession and Wayne Swan is still trying - very trying. There is no guarantee that Joe Hockey – with pressure from Tony Abbott, will not continue on the downhill spiral. There is no political party that has shown that they can be trusted, as it needs a high top tax, ie 66%-70% to force the excessive incomes out, and it also needs the first $30,000 to be tax free, to keep within the 30% of the GDP to balance the books, but the treasurers we have had since 1970, can't get it through their skull and into their brain. They are either too dense or too corrupt. I can only hope that we get a new political party who can truly understand economics, not the party system of destroying which they seem to be adept at.

Peter Ryan 13/04/11 02:41 PM Report Abuse

I may be thick - but it seems I'm hearing the Govt (ie Bob Brown) go on about how the carbon tax is intended to reduce demand for carbon producing products (ie send up energy/petrol prices so people use less) and so save the World. Then we have the Gov't (Gillard this time) saying how tax payers and pensioners will be compensated for the price rises. Duhh! So what's the bleeding point. Someone care to get the Govt to explain the apparent crazy reasoning?

Gussyjg 19/05/11 11:36 PM Report Abuse

Ian,
All for efficient market systems and taxes but surely we need to make sure we make the best of the current situation for the entire country whilst the going is good and not just those in the mining sector. I remember back in the 80's and 90's when the Terms of Trade were in deficiet and we lamented weak commodity prices. Now the tables have turned, surely we have to make hay whilst the sun shines?

Gussyjg 19/05/11 11:39 PM Report Abuse

Ian,
An efficient production system is predicated on innovation and moving forward, not just on maintaining the status quo. It is clear that there is a global shift occurring in manufacturing and commodity production. Those who are most efficient under the new regime and first to adopt (to low carbon and national wealth creation) will flourish and prosper the most.

Mervyn Jacobi 04/07/11 03:15 PM Report Abuse

AK Myrtus , Is certainly throwing the ball back at the obsessive fanatic wimps. Too many people have quickly forgotten why the Liberal Party lost the 2007 election, and the memory of its poor attacks against the Australian workers has certainly diminished in their mind, if they have one. There is no argument that the Labor party is totally devoid of concern for the Australian industries and their workers, Just the same as the Liberals. I agree with him that the Politicians, who have been in Parliament, should never have been allowed in there in the first place, and those who have been getting in should have to survive on the unemployment income, or show that they can hold onto a real job where they have to show their true value. To join any party, it seems that all you have to do is to sign a promise “that you will agree with the decisions of the majority”. Why the Majority, they are not and never ever have been the most intelligent of any community, and looking at the apparent level of intelligence of both the majority of the remarks on this site, and that of those in the political parties, they have proved my point.

Mervyn Jacobi 21/07/11 08:22 AM Report Abuse

Is it only the morons who get into parliament? Because the only results we seem to get is a further reduction of the economy and more workers losing their homes because they cannot pay the mortgage. The unemployment figures are a fraud, because there are hundreds or thousands of wage earners who can get work for only two or three days a week for permanent work, and our devious governments have decided that as long as they are given as little as one hour permanent, they are not unemployed. Such is the deceit of our parties in power. The only benefit our politicians give in parliament, is to themselves or to the very rich, and they make sure they are going to bleed us for the rest of the time they are alive. They be Morons, but they are greedy ones, aren’t they?

Mervyn Jacobi 21/07/11 09:56 AM Report Abuse

I know that the Liberal party have forgotten Harold Holt as he was lost at sea, but he was the best treasurer Australia has had Liberal or Labor. Well really, Labor has never had a treasurer of any calibre at all, and the present Wayne Swan might just as well be working for the foreign companies but then, so might Peter Costello and some of the others. It is a pity that a gang of incompetents have been able to infiltrate the party and – like the Labor party, destroy the economy and living conditions for small business and our workers. If the party had enough intelligence to bring back Harold’s 66.6% tax but with a tax free income of about $30,000, and the mining export was ceased, I am sure that economy of Australia would revive along with our own manufacturing industries and once again become very active and Australia would take its place in causing the renaissance of the economy of many of the countries.

Joe Bloggs 21/07/11 03:38 PM Report Abuse

I have not voted liberal for 20yrs nor have any of my family members. However if the Liberal party gets rid of the carbon tax, revokes the 23AG Tax changes and changes their philosophy on taxing high income earners we are all ready to vote.
Yes I earn a high income but I work long hrs away from my family and home.
Why should people like myself be punished for working hard?? I know for a fact I do not get 70 to 90k's worth of benefits from the tax I pay, no wonder so many Aussies are declaring themselves non residents and moving overseas. I may be one myself soon if things dont change.
In summary fix the unfair taxes and you will have lots more votes.

Mervyn Jacobi 22/07/11 09:43 AM Report Abuse

Is it only the morons who get into parliament? Because the only results we seem to get is a further reduction of the economy and more workers losing their homes because they cannot pay the mortgage. The unemployment figures are a fraud, because there are hundreds or thousands of wage earners who can get work for only two or three days a week for permanent work, and our devious governments have decided that as long as they are given as little as one hour permanent, they are not unemployed. Such is the deceit of our parties in power. The only benefit our politicians give in parliament, is to themselves or to the very rich, and they make sure they are going to bleed us for the rest of the time they are alive. They might be Morons, but they are greedy ones, aren’t they? The reciprocal imports from our mining exports are destroying our own manufacturing industries and putting thousands of Australian jobs on the line. The fact that our coal is traded at a price at only 10% to 30% of its value, and the imports are similarly reduced and force our industries off the market. An intelligent government with integrity would increase the top tax to the 66.6% as it was in the '50's and '60's, and increase the income level of zero tax to about $30,000, but neither party has the sufficient allegiance to pull Australia out of this recession they have dug, they are only getting in deeper and think they are smart.

John Draper 09/08/11 01:00 AM Report Abuse

Here's an idea the Hon Ian MacFarlane is wrong to reject the idea of a new mining tax and that taxes in general hurting productivity. With the debate coming out of the United States about the raising of the debt ceiling; the strongest superpower the world has ever known was brought to the brink of bankruptcy, based on the premise that taxes hurt productivity.

Australia is in a unique position, we enjoy the benefit of the strong export market driven by the mining boon but are hurt by the rising of the dollar (exports). We must at this time invest in our infrastructure, build the next generation of railways, freeways, ports and airports. Build the foundation that the will spur growth into the next century. Yes we can rail against the mining tax and even the carbon tax, but these are not the things that will bring the people to our cause. We are on the wrong side of these issues, what will bring people to our cause is fiscal responsibility. How we invest their hard earn money, do we build our country our to spend our effort fighting the ALP.

The choose is ours.

Duncan 23/08/11 07:13 PM Report Abuse

Ian Verrender has summed up my thoughts exactly.

It's time to invest before mining boom goes bust.

Were you among the multitudes who cheered last year when the mining industry managed to hobble Ken Henry's proposal for a comprehensive resources rent tax?

Did you begin to feel a strange sense of unease when, just a few weeks later, those same mining groups delivered earnings results that would have been unimaginable a couple of years earlier?

And are you becoming alarmed at the forces sweeping through the economy right now that are ravaging our ever-diminishing manufacturing base?

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If you've answered yes to at least two of these questions, perhaps the penny has dropped about the mammoth task facing Australia if we are to emerge from this boom on a sounder financial footing than before it began.

A boom, by definition, is fleeting. And a mining boom is unsustainable. While this one may be stronger and longer than anything we've experienced, it eventually will end.

At some stage, either demand for our minerals and energy will slow or we'll simply run out. That's the thing about natural resources; they are finite. You only get to dig them out of the ground once.

When this boom does end, you'd hate to think that as a nation we would be left with nothing more than a pile of worn-out, imported, flat-screen televisions, a lot of empty holes in the landscape and no way at all of earning a crust in the future.

That's the daunting task facing our leaders; to maximise the value of those natural resources, not just for those of us around now, but for the generations that follow.

And at that same time, maintain a diversified economy.

Yesterday's long-expected restructuring from BlueScope Steel, which will shed a quarter of its workforce at Port Kembla and Western Port in Victoria, follows a similar announcement by OneSteel last week and proposed layoffs at Qantas and Westpac.

Those workers are not just units of labour as economics textbooks would have us believe, that can quickly transfer Western Australia's mines. They have families, commitments and specialised skills that make them far less mobile than machines.

The simple explanation for what is happening right now is that the resources sector is squeezing the life out of our manufacturing industries. The enormous amount of money flowing into Australia - from mineral exports and in new capital to fund new projects - has pushed our dollar and our interest rates higher.

Our currency moved higher than parity with the American dollar back in March and it has stubbornly remained at that level, even during the past few weeks of global financial turmoil.

It's terrific for consumers. But it has eroded the competitive edge many of our manufacturers once enjoyed - particularly heavy industries like steel - which were built from years of technical innovation and productivity gains.

And if our dollar continues to rise, particularly against an artificially low Chinese yuan, the pressure on our industry could reach breaking point.

Rather than address the root cause, however, there are now renewed calls from industry and some politicians for a return to the bad old days of trade protection.

How about subsidies for the steel industry? At least, they argue, it would be better than paying unemployment benefits. Perhaps, they are right. But it's a little like offering a Band-Aid to a shark attack victim. And where do you stop with protection?

These would be the same critics who scuttled the Henry resources tax (denying the nation income), who demand a quick return to a budget surplus - but who happily advocate increased spending (subsidies). Clearly, logic is a handicap in politics these days.

There is a way forward for Australia but it requires bold leadership, a refusal to be held hostage to opinion polls and an end to the easy capitulation to vested interests.

The fruits from the resources boom need to be harvested and invested for our future. And they could be invested in such a way as to take the pressure off our currency, thereby maintaining the competitiveness of our manufacturers. (Remember too, Henry proposed tax cuts to industry.)

Norway has done just that with its oil revenues. It has a sovereign wealth fund with accumulated assets of more than half a trillion dollars. All of it is invested offshore, thereby helping to stabilise the amount of cash flowing into the economy. That counteracts the pressure on its currency and, longer term, diversifies its earnings base.

Other countries have done the same. Chile has a stabilisation fund while Alaska and the Canadian province of Alberta have similar funds. That's not to mention the Gulf States, which invest the proceeds of their oil revenues abroad.

And countries such as Singapore and China have massive sovereign wealth funds that invest the proceeds of their trade surpluses.

Yesterday's desperate restructuring at BlueScope - shutting its export division and halving its steel output - couldn't present a starker picture to that of its former owner, BHP Billiton, which this week will deliver a record $US22.1 billion ($21.2 billion) profit.

Well managed and tightly controlled during the lean times, BHP is reaping the rewards of a once-in-a-lifetime boom.

Its riches, down in no small part to its Pilbara iron deposits and the enormous coal seams of the Bowen Basin, will be divvied up and doled out to shareholders demanding a bigger slice of the bonanza.

As with Rio Tinto, Australians still figure prominently on the share register. But the bulk of owners are foreign institutions. That is where the proceeds from the biggest resources boom in our history are headed.