Oz Federal Election 2013 - Discussion and Comments

[SQ421]

Another article offering some perspective on the recently proposed changes to FBT

You can't blame anyone for taking up a tax break that's on offer. And you can't blame a government for recognising a bad tax break and shutting it down. Remember: those who pay for tax breaks are other taxpayers.

A tax break story we've heard before and the sky did not fall in

 

[quokka77]

Maybe more people will consider public transport, walking, cycling, or relocating home closer to their place of work. I'd love to ditch my work car (unfortunately it's an employer requirement I have my vehicle available for off site work during business hours so we're a 2 car family, I just claim cents per kilometre).

 

[Skyring]

Maybe more people will consider public transport, walking, cycling, or relocating home closer to their place of work.

Maybe. But people will pay huge amounts of money to keep their cars. Look at how much the thing costs, all made up of many small slugs: rego, insurance, fuel, drivers licence, repairs, servicing, parking, tolls. Oh, and the not-inconsiderable cost of the thing.

 

[Major]

Maybe. But people will pay huge amounts of money to keep their cars. Look at how much the thing costs, all made up of many small slugs: rego, insurance, fuel, drivers licence, repairs, servicing, parking, tolls. Oh, and the not-inconsiderable cost of the thing.

They will even drive out of their way to fill up at a WOW servo and earn QFF points

 

[quokka77]

@Major: Slightly off topic I have started doing ING Orange pay-wave for 5% off fuel at the cheaper non-supermarket chains (it's only a 6 month introductory offer, but will use it while it lasts). No points, but 5% off a much lower starting price, and for me a lot more convenient than pre-purchasing wish cards (which are not very well accepted by Caltex outlets near me).

Back on topic: Abbott has made a few gaffes recently (including the colourless odourless one, being unable to name his eponymous candidate in the seat of Dennison), is looking a bit rattled and may have had the rug pulled from under him with the latest PNG stitch-up. Besides the negative ad campaign (which I have noticed getting a run in my browser banners recently) he needs to get some momentum and positive pro-active coverage. Not sure where it's going to come from, given the state of the budget, his public commitment to fiscal responsibility, as well as many savings measures he will need to announce at some stage.

The Greens kicking Kevin over his asylum policy will not hurt Labor at all. Even the Craig Thompson court story was buried under all the PNG talk... Will ICAC and Craig cost Labor seats in NSW? Notwithstanding the jurisdictional issues (ICAC / state vs federal) it would almost be a shame if they didn't, but maybe a telling percentage of Sydney is happy to pull down the front-runner at the last minute.

 

[cove]

When you see a claim that the new car FBT will raise $1.8 billion it means that those who are unwilling to do 12 weeks of log book every 5 years will be paying quite a bit more tax than before.
Just like the mining tax you will see many moving quickly to reduce their liability with log books so it will probably produce a pretty neutral net result once job losses to the revenue account get added into the picture.

 

[Skyring]

Back on topic: Abbott has made a few gaffes recently (including the colourless odourless one, being unable to name his eponymous candidate in the seat of Dennison), is looking a bit rattled and may have had the rug pulled from under him with the latest PNG stitch-up. Besides the negative ad campaign (which I have noticed getting a run in my browser banners recently) he needs to get some momentum and positive pro-active coverage. Not sure where it's going to come from, given the state of the budget, his public commitment to fiscal responsibility, as well as many savings measures he will need to announce at some stage.

The Greens kicking Kevin over his asylum policy will not hurt Labor at all. Even the Craig Thompson court story was buried under all the PNG talk... Will ICAC and Craig cost Labor seats in NSW? Notwithstanding the jurisdictional issues (ICAC / state vs federal) it would almost be a shame if they didn't, but maybe a telling percentage of Sydney is happy to pull down the front-runner at the last minute.

It's not the Greens Kevin needs to worry about, though he has just ensured Adam Bandt will be reflected in Melbourne. It's Labor.

I'm seeing Labor as being essentially Rudd and not much depth or weight to him. He really doesn't have the party behind him and the Labor campaign headquarters will be hard-pressed to keep the one-man show on track.

We're seeing more policy on the run with the PNG thing. That's not something carefully thought and thrashed out in cabinet, I'll bet!

It's Rudd hoping the thing holds together through the campaign. Will any asylum-seekers be assessed as refugees and released into the PNG community before polling day? No. Will we run out of places to store asylum-seekers? Probably, given the latest disaster in Nauru.

 

[amaroo]

There are many within Labor that will despised this dump & run PNG policy.

Doug Cameron - wonder if his new gig in the ministry will curb his enthusiasm for a door stop clanger!

 

[drsmithy]

When you see a claim that the new car FBT will raise $1.8 billion it means that those who are unwilling to do 12 weeks of log book every 5 years will be paying quite a bit more tax than before.
Just like the mining tax you will see many moving quickly to reduce their liability with log books so it will probably produce a pretty neutral net result once job losses to the revenue account get added into the picture.

I have little doubt that the vast majority of people currently salary sacrificing their vehicles have zero legitimate work-related usage, and of the people that do a sizeable chunk are already keeping logbooks anyway.

Job losses in the "salary sacrifice accountancy industry" will be relatively few (and of a net benefit to the economy anyway). Job losses in the Australian car manufacturing industry are all but assured regardless, and fundamentally independent of any changes to FBT enforcement.

 

[Pushka]

Job losses in the "salary sacrifice accountancy industry" will be relatively few (and of a net benefit to the economy anyway).

You are now doing nothing more than guessing.

 

[drron]

Personally I think there are a few unanswered questions with the PNG policy.First the Manus Island facility is currently being upgraded to hold 600.It is due to be completed in January 2014.Arrivals at Christmas Island arrivals are running at 2000+ per month.So just where are they to go in PNG?
Then the PNG PM says he has agreed Manus Island can be increased to accommodate 3000.Mr. Rudd said it would be at Manus Island and "some other places in PNG".Just how long until these other places that I presume have no plans for construction will be available?
Will the people smugglers call his bluff?

 

[wmetz]

U missed the point the Aust gov will not be processing them, this will be done only by the PNG gov. So
when they reject a person application , u find that's it. Goodbye

 

[drron]

U missed the point the Aust gov will not be processing them, this will be done only by the PNG gov. So
when they reject a person application , u find that's it. Goodbye

But they have to go to PNG to be assessed which was stated by both Mr.Rudd and his Immigration Minister.

Asylum seekers taken to Christmas Island will be sent to Manus and elsewhere in Papua New Guinea for assessment of their refugee status.If they are found to be genuine refugees they will be resettled in Papua New Guinea, an emerging economy with a strong future; a robust democracy which is also a signatory to the United Nations Refugees Convention.

Transcript of Joint Press Conference | Prime Minister of Australia

So the PM is hoping the threat stops the Boats.but if it doesn't?

PS.Great politics though.

 

[tgh]

You can just imagine the group discussion ( kevvie and his cabinet of advisers (1...))
So what are our main problems... Carbon tax.. lets just pretend to scrap it.
The boats.. easy we will just stop them
Credibility?.. I now have it in spades....lets go kiddies

Populist election promises completely ignoring the primary labor principles.. stuff like fairness equality equity yada yada yada.....
An extreme right agenda that has been adopted to try to win the election at any cost.
Gillard never could have , never would have thrown out all honour and principle like kevvie baby.

My prophecy holds.. he is a truly formidable populist pollie who looks like fooling enough people to win

 

[drsmithy]

You are now doing nothing more than guessing.

Just how big do you think the salary sacrifice industry is ?

Do you think there are more people in it than, say, Campbell Newman cut from the public service since he started ?

 

[drsmithy]

Populist election promises completely ignoring the primary labor principles.. stuff like fairness equality equity yada yada yada.....
An extreme right agenda that has been adopted to try to win the election at any cost.
Gillard never could have , never would have thrown out all honour and principle like kevvie baby.

I don't think you've been paying attention.

Labor have been a soft-right party since (at least) they began competing with the Liberals over who could treat refugees the worst, around a decade ago.

Gillard oversaw numerous policies that went against Labor's "traditional" beliefs. The treatment of single parent welfare, for example.

My prophecy holds.. he is a truly formidable populist pollie who looks like fooling enough people to win

Between him and Abbot, however, he's clearly the least-worst option. The slimmest of silver linings around this latest round of politicking is that it at least might bring back a few who would have bled to the Liberals, and on the other side they'll defect to the Greens.

New Labor are simply the Liberals with a ten to fifteen year time delay.

 

[cove]

I was surprised that there was no reasonable transition period for single mothers to transition into part time employment. A change like that really needed a transition to work period so businesses could make plans to employ more part timers.
Placing children into poverty was not very nice as a result of that change.

 

[drsmithy]

PS.Great politics though.

Indeed. If you like to believe in these sorts of theories, you could imagine him simply playing a long game - a short term nullification of one of Abbot's key three-letter slogans, but done with the understanding that it's highly likely to be challenged and struck down in the High Court.

 

[HarryB]

Indeed. If you like to believe in these sorts of theories, you could imagine him simply playing a long game - a short term nullification of one of Abbot's key three-letter slogans, but done with the understanding that it's highly likely to be challenged and struck down in the High Court.

TA has already contradicted himself in response to this policy so early signs suggest it is indeed good politics. But you right, the high court will probably stomp on it.

 

[Pukka]

I don't think you've been paying attention.

Labor have been a soft-right party since (at least) they began competing with the Liberals over who could treat refugees the worst, around a decade ago.

Gillard oversaw numerous policies that went against Labor's "traditional" beliefs. The treatment of single parent welfare, for example.


Between him and Abbot, however, he's clearly the least-worst option. The slimmest of silver linings around this latest round of politicking is that it at least might bring back a few who would have bled to the Liberals, and on the other side they'll defect to the Greens.

New Labor are simply the Liberals with a ten to fifteen year time delay.

Yes I agree they're both fairly poor.

It's just a shame we don't have anyone like Margaret Thatcher to choose.

She was great.

Or even Berlusconi he seems like a fun sort of guy I think he'd get on well with Craig Thompson despite their political differences