O75 Public Administration

GST rise in trouble as rebellion in Senate grows

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Original article by Primrose Riordan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 12-Nov-15

The majority of cross-bench senators will need to back any push by the Australian Government to increase the GST for it to succeed. However, a number of cross-bench senators have stated their opposition to lifting the GST to 15 per cent, as have several independent MPs in the lower house. The Opposition and the Australian Greens will also vote against any changes to the GST.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, FAMILY FIRST PARTY AUSTRALIA LIMITED, LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

Thousands ‘opting out’ of AWU

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Original article by Anthony Klan
The Australian – Page: 2 : 12-Nov-15

The Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance & Corruption has identified some disturbing practices at labour unions. Jeremy Stoljar, counsel assisting the commission, states in a submission released on 6 November 2015 that some employers paid membership fees to the Australian Workers’ Union in Victoria on behalf of "phantom members" who did not exist or were automatically signed up to the union without their knowledge.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN WORKERS’ UNION-FEDERATION OF INDUSTRIAL, MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING EMPLOYEES, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO TRADE UNION GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION, CLEANEVENT PTY LTD, CHIQUITA MUSHROOMS PTY LTD, THIESS JOHN HOLLAND, WINSLOW CONSTRUCTORS PTY LTD, UNIBUILT PTY LTD

Gary Morgan – Tax reform and broadening the GST base will help tackle Australia’s "cash economy"

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Morgan Poll Update – Page: Online : 9-Nov-15

The solid increase in the ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rating (now 116.6, up from 105.3 pre-Turnbull) and Roy Morgan Business Confidence (119.3 in October 2015, up from 102.6 in August) since Malcolm Turnbull became Prime Minister in mid-September gives him the political capital to make the tough decisions now to ensure Australia’s future prosperity. The recent discussion about the taxation system – including increasing the GST from 10 per cent to 15 per cent, and possibly broadening the GST base, is needed because too many people and companies do not pay their fair share of tax. Broadening the GST base in combination with tax reform will help tackle Australia’s booming "cash economy" and allow the Federal Government to implement extensive industrial relations reform. Australians who want to prosper will not complain, as more jobs will be available for everyone.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Rich could pay 27pc super tax

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Original article by Phillip Coorey, Jennifer Hewett
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 2 : 11-Nov-15

Most Australians’ contributions to their superannuation funds are taxed at 15 per cent at present. The tax reform options being examined by the Federal Government include a proposal to tax super contributions at 20 percentage points below a taxpayer’s marginal income tax rate. Treasurer Scott Morrison has indicated that the Government’s focus is on taxing super at the accumulation phase. In contrast, the Opposition’s policy is centred on taxing super upon retirement.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, DELOITTE ACCESS ECONOMICS PTY LTD

Economic Issues (38%) still biggest problems facing Australia for new PM Malcolm Turnbull but Terrorism/Wars/ Security/Safety easily World’s biggest problem (30%)

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Morgan Poll Update – Page: Online : 10-Nov-15

A special Roy Morgan telephone survey, which was carried out from 13-15 October 2015, has found that 38 per cent of Australians aged 14+ regard economic and financial issues as the most important set of problems facing the nation. This is one per cent higher than in July. The survey also shows that 16 per cent of Australians rate religion, immigration and human rights issues as the biggest problem facing the country. Meanwhile, 30 per cent of Australians identified terrorism, war and security issues as the biggest problems facing the world, while 21 per cent nominated environmental issues.

CORPORATES
MORGAN POLL, ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED

OECD growth forecast cut to 2.6pc from 3pc

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Original article by Jacob Greber
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 10-Nov-15

The OECD has downgraded its economic growth forecast for Australia in 2015 from 2.3 per cent to 2.2 per cent. Meanwhile, the economy is expected to expand by 2.6 per cent in 2016, compared with the OECD’s previous forecast of three per cent growth. The OECD’s economic outlook report suggests that Australia’s unemployment rate will remain at around 6.2 per cent in 2016. The OECD has also urged the Federal Government to pursue tax reform, including an increase in the rate and scope of the GST.

CORPORATES
ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

Employers face criminal action over AWU

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 9-Nov-15

Jeremy Stoljar has concluded that federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten was not involved in criminal or unlawful conduct when he was head of the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU). However, the counsel assisting the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance & Corruption has recommended that commissioner Dyson Heydon should conclude in his findings that former AWU boss Cesar Melhem and several companies may have contravened the Crimes Act regarding payments to the union.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN WORKERS’ UNION – WORKPLACE REFORM ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO TRADE UNION GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION, THIESS JOHN HOLLAND, WINSLOW CONSTRUCTORS PTY LTD, ACI PACKAGING SERVICES PTY LTD, CHIQUITA MUSHROOMS PTY LTD

Bank GST for company tax cut plan

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Original article by Jacob Greber
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 9-Nov-15

The Parliamentary Budget Office estimates that the goods and services tax will generate revenue of $A18bn over the next four years. However, increasing the tax to 15 per cent and broadening its scope to include financial services could potentially lift revenue to around $A27bn over four years. This is one of the options that will be considered by the Federal Government, and has been advocated by South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. PARLIAMENTARY BUDGET OFFICE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

BCA says cut taxes for business first

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 6-Nov-15

Business Council of Australia president Catherine Livingstone argues that a lower corporate tax rate should be at the top of the Federal Government’s tax reform agenda. She notes that reducing the corporate tax burden has been proven to be most effective at boosting innovation and economic growth in other countries. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has stressed that tax reforms will not gain widespread public support unless they are seen to be fair.

CORPORATES
BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU LIMITED

Union shopped at Tiffany’s

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Original article by Lucille Keen
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 8 : 5-Nov-15

The funds of yet another union have been misused by corrupt officials. Danielle O’Brien, former account manager at the National Union of Workers, admitted that she used union funds for personal purposes. The Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance & Corruption has been told that $A68,395 in total was transferred from the union’s accounts to personal accounts controlled by O’Brien between July 2011 and June 2015.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL UNION OF WORKERS, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO TRADE UNION GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION, STOREMEN AND PACKERS UNION, HEALTH SERVICES UNION OF AUSTRALIA, TIFFANY AND COMPANY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY