Diary of our stinking Govt.

[boris1gary]

As it's more than 100 days now, it has been suggested that a new thread was needed.  The current govt has been breaking promises and telling lies at a rate so fast it's hard to keep up.

This below is worrying, "independent" pffft, as if your own doctor is somehow what? biased, it's ridiculous. So far there is talk of only including people under a certain age 30-35, for now. Remember that if your injured in a car, injured at work or get ill, you too might need to go on the DSP. They have done a similar think in the UK with devastating consequences.

and this is the 2nd time recently where the Govt has referred to work as welfare???? So when you go to work tomorrow (or tuesday), just remember that's welfare.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-20/disability-pensioners-may-be-reassessed-kevin-andrews/5400598

Independent doctors could be called in to reassess disability pensioners, Federal Government says

The Federal Government is considering using independent doctors to examine disability pensioners and assess whether they should continue to receive payments.

Currently family doctors provide reports supporting claims for the Disability Support Pension (DSP).

But Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews is considering a measure that would see independent doctors reassess eligibility.

"We are concerned that where people can work, the best form of welfare is work," Mr Andrews said at a press conference.

[monman12]

"An inquiry into tax avoidance and aggressive minimisation by corporations registered in Australia and multinational corporations operating in Australia."

Correct       but not a mention of tax evasion in the title,   and not even a teeny weeny mention of Hancock Prospecting,   Hancock Coal Pty Limited, or Hancock Alpha West Pty Limited.

[gleee58]

Why should it include anything about Hancock in the title?

The question of evasion can't be answered until after investigation.  It would be silly to assume it doesn't happen just because a company is large.

[cherry*135]

I wrote: A company might  think they are using  tax avoidance measures but they are actually engaging in tax evasion."

I would change that to might claim they are using legal tax avoidance measures...............................

Whether they are legal tax minimisation measures or tax evasion measures can be determined by an ATO audit.

[cherry*135]

Australian Taxation Office axes 4400 jobs in 19 months

The Australian Taxation Office has cut 4400 jobs in the past 19 months with one staff member telling a Senate hearing many of them were "our go-to" people. 

On Thursday, the Community and Public Sector Union told the hearing into corporate tax avoidance Australia's tax collection would be hurt by the workforce reduction – a contrary line to the ATO's official view.

CPSU member Cathy Pugh, who worked in the international branch in Sydney and specialised in base erosion and profit shifting, said managers had been taking on more complex jobs from officers.

It's mostly experienced staff with broad and in-depth experience in applying the law, running audits, building networks, detecting tax avoidance, building relationships with taxpayers and tax advisors," Ms Pugh said.

"These skills are particularly important in dealing with international tax avoidance.

"These people were our go-to people – and they're gone. There's a limit to how long this can be sustained."  

CPSU president Alistair Waters said tax officers wanted loopholes closed, more stringent reporting requirements for big business and staffing levels to be restored.

"Our members are very concerned about the impact of cuts on the capacity of the ATO to effectively perform its role," Mr Waters said.  

Read more

http://www.smh.com.au/national/public-service/australian-taxation-office-axes-4400-jobs-in-19-months...

[debra9275]

"yes Christine Milne and the Greens called for an inquiry into corporate tax evasion as everyone knows"

"everyone"? oh gosh I am not an "everyone",  are these the everyone(s

oh sorry, I thought you said you research everything, so I just assumed you would know

[debra9275]

http://www.afr.com/technology/web/joe-hockey-flags-netflix-tax-in-gst-extension-20150409-1mhhed?stb=...

The cost of downloading movies, music, books and other media from overseas providers such as Apple and Netflix is set to jump by 10 per cent after federal Treasurer Joe Hockey and his state counterparts agreed these services should be subject to the GST.

The treasurers have also agreed to push ahead with plans to apply the GST to goods purchased online from overseas which are valued at less than $1000.

I hope this netflix tax isn't because newscorp has been complaining about it

http://www.news.com.au/finance/hockey-wants-tax-rules-enforced-on-movies-and-other-intangibles-bough...

MOVIES and other media services bought online from overseas sources soon will become more expensive as the Government tightens the collection of GST money.

And it is possible the entrenched resistance to lowering the $1000 GST threshold on goods bought online from overseas is about to collapse.

Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey and state counterparts today in Canberra discussed the indirect tax and how it was gathered and distributed. One result was a plan to increase the revenue raised by the GST without changing its 10 per cent rate or the list of items on which it is levied.

[gleee58]

---

@debra9275 wrote:

http://www.afr.com/technology/web/joe-hockey-flags-netflix-tax-in-gst-extension-20150409-1mhhed?stb=...

The cost of downloading movies, music, books and other media from overseas providers such as Apple and Netflix is set to jump by 10 per cent after federal Treasurer Joe Hockey and his state counterparts agreed these services should be subject to the GST.

The treasurers have also agreed to push ahead with plans to apply the GST to goods purchased online from overseas which are valued at less than $1000.

I hope this netflix tax isn't because newscorp has been complaining about it

http://www.news.com.au/finance/hockey-wants-tax-rules-enforced-on-movies-and-other-intangibles-bough...

MOVIES and other media services bought online from overseas sources soon will become more expensive as the Government tightens the collection of GST money.

And it is possible the entrenched resistance to lowering the $1000 GST threshold on goods bought online from overseas is about to collapse.

Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey and state counterparts today in Canberra discussed the indirect tax and how it was gathered and distributed. One result was a plan to increase the revenue raised by the GST without changing its 10 per cent rate or the list of items on which it is levied.

---

How are they going to collect the GST I wonder.  Chances are it will cost more to collect GST on OS sales than they collect.

I think newscorpse is getting ahead of itself.  These changes have not been passed yet and might not get through.  And yes, Newscorpse are behind the netflix tax.  As they said yesterday, The Oz is not for profit, it's to influence policy.

[monman12]

Gosh, it would be like saying that 50 cents per share would be .....................................................

oooooops.   25% in 3 months,  I do not understand.

Obviously.

[cherry*135]

Wondered when a graph would appear next.

[debra9275]

I was thinking the same Gleee, the cost of collecting it... Esoecially when some 4400 just lost their jobs at the tax office. Weird stuff!