The totally off-topic thread

[cove]

If nothing changes in tax rates we will have many more folks paying 49% on every extra dollar earned. That would be the 30% company rate plus 19% on the dividend paid even though it carries a 30% franking credit or just having a taxable income over 180,000.

 

[medhead]

Couldn't agree more - it seems to work in many other countries. But what about negative gearing I hear the investors say...

They probably won't be happy with my answer. But it all comes down the government needing to end a fixed bucket of money. I think that bucket can decrease in size of the money is collected more efficiently. But In generally the tax payers are still up to pay tax. Just I would have them not pay extra which is then paid back.

Anyway back to negative gearing - perhaps claim operating loss against capital when selling. Or perhaps harsher restrictions to make a profitable investment attractive.

 

[JessicaTam]

Daylight saving ended today.

Now off to check all those non-connected clocks.

 

[ellen10]

I love daylight saving.
But I am also glad when it changes back at this time of year.

 

[amaroo]

The change is a blessing for anyone departing BNE for those early morning meetings in MEL/SYD

 

[boomy]

The change is a blessing for anyone departing BNE for those early morning meetings in MEL/SYD

You can say that again! My clients in MEL are sick of me showing up to meetings during their lunchtime

 

[medhead]

You can say that again! My clients in MEL are sick of me showing up to meetings during their lunchtime

The flight time between BNE and MEL is 6 hours, is it?

 

[boomy]

The flight time between BNE and MEL is 6 hours, is it?

No flights before 7am is one of my golden rules for maintaining sanity after traveling 4-5 a week in almost a decade.
Had no issues with daylight saving when living in SYD and later in MEL but now in BNE it's a PITA.

 

[Cossie]

Some interesting points raised: This Easter give thanks for penalty rates, they keep us human

 

[Cossie]

Not bad for an eighty one year old: John Mayall review: At 81, Mayall is as authentic as his idols


Saw him in Sydney a long time ago (not 1971 though) at Coogee or Bondi, still one of my favourite musicians.

 

[whatmeworry]

Some interesting points raised: This Easter give thanks for penalty rates, they keep us human

Interesting article. I saw many families and couples getting out on Good Friday enjoying the Autumn Sun.

Have you heard about the member of parliament who couldn't find a bottle shop open on Good Friday? He blamed penalty rates. The real reason was Sydney's licensing laws.
Penalty rates get blamed for almost everything these days, which is odd because they've been around for 100 years. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry wants businesses that are closed over Easter to put signs in their windows saying it's because penalty rates are too high. If they are open it wants them to put signs in their windows saying they are employing fewer staff than they would like because penalty rates are too high. As it tells employers on its website: "There is a poster for either scenario relevant to your business."
MasterChef George Calombaris wants us to believe they are making his restaurants uneconomic. Yet in the past five years spending at restaurants and cafes has climbed 36 per cent. Other retail spending has climbed only 18 per cent. Employment in food service establishments has grown at twice the rate of other employment.

Australians who complain about penalty rates are often not themselves required to work unsociable hours. Assistant Infrastructure Minister Jamie Briggs told a business audience last year he was unable to dine at his favourite restaurant on New Year's Eve because penalty rates forced it to close. I phoned his office on Good Friday. He wasn't there.
Reluctant though we might be to admit it, there's a class element to complaints about penalty rates. The people who complain about them are those least likely to be forced to work at night or at weekends. The people who serve those people at night and on weekends are often lower paid (without the penalty rates) and less educated.

 

[medhead]

No flights before 7am is one of my golden rules for maintaining sanity after traveling 4-5 a week in almost a decade.
Had no issues with daylight saving when living in SYD and later in MEL but now in BNE it's a PITA.

Are so it's not Daylight savings that's the issue, but personal policy.

 

[TheRealTMA]

I love daylight saving.
But I am also glad when it changes back at this time of year.

Someone once said "Not a great fan of daylight myself so what's the point in saving it?"

At least RN on digital in QLD will go back to normal time!

 

[boomy]

Are so it's not Daylight savings that's the issue, but personal policy.

I'm not against it. Just saying that departing from BNE in the morning during Daylight saving is inconvenient. You either lose an hour's work or an hour's sleep.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Interesting article. I saw many families and couples getting out on Good Friday enjoying the Autumn Sun.

Just read the article in The Age today. Says it all really. Excellent.

 

[QF WP]

Having a lovely day in Caloundra with friends:

 

[JohnK]

Daylight saving ended today.

As I am in Thailand does that mean I lost the extra hour?

 

[Rugby]

Looking nice up there QF WP - it's finally fined up in SYD too. Just had oysters and sashimi, but I wouldn't mind a couple of your chips as well

 

[JessicaTam]

As I am in Thailand does that mean I lost the extra hour?

Unfortunately so. You could check with QF when you get back to see if it turned up in lost luggage.

 

[Pushka]

In Adelaide the penalty rate for venues is $75 an hour. Wonder why shops and venues are shut?