‘Relying on government': TV host uncovers Australia's biggest issues
'First, though, on the economic health of our country, let's get serious – we have become a nation of leaners, not leaders,' Mr Price said.
'We have continued to swamp the country with unprecedented numbers of migrants.
'Workers relying on governments for their pay packets, that grows alarmingly…and a report out today should surprise but not shock anyone.
'The Centre for Independent Studies has found that more than half of Australian workers rely on one government or another, federal or state, presumably, for most of their income.'
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Perth Now
11 minutes ago
- Perth Now
New 50-year UK, Aussie military pact signed
Defence and Foreign Ministers from the United Kingdom and Australia have signed a new 50-year military pact designed to underpin Australia's acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines. The deal was signed in Geelong on Saturday, the hometown of Australia's Defence Minister, and dubbed 'The Geelong Treaty'. Officials from Australia and the UK have been forced to voice renewed enthusiasm for the AUKUS agreement, amid a US review of the deal. America's defence and foreign minister-equivalents have not been part of AUKUS meetings in Australia this week. Donald Trump and UK Prime Minster Keir Starmer and expected to meet in Scotland this week. At Geelong on Saturday, Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said the new pact meant jobs and military security. The Geelong Treaty reaffirms the Australian and UK commitment to getting nuclear powered submarines. Gaye Gerard / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia 'It's a treaty which will last for 50 years,' Mr Marles said during a signing ceremony with his UK counterpart. 'It is a bilateral treaty which sits under the trilateral AUKUS framework, itself embodied in a trilateral treaty that was signed that I signed in Washington, DC., in August of last year. 'In doing this, AUKUS will see 20,000 jobs in Australia. It will see, in building submarines in this country, the biggest industrial endeavour in our nation's history, bigger even than the Snowy Hydro scheme,' Mr Marles said. 'In military terms, what it will deliver is the biggest leap in Australia's military capability, really, since the formation of the navy back in 1913.' Alongside Mr Marles, UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healey dubbed the Geelong Treaty a powerful agreement. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles, right, and UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healey, second from the right, signed the Geelong Treaty on Saturday. NewsWire /Pool / Jeremy Piper Credit: News Corp Australia 'It is a treaty that will support tens of thousands of jobs in both Australia and the UK,' Mr Healey said. 'It is a treaty to build the most advanced, most powerful attack submarines either of our nations have ever had. It is a treaty that will fortify the Indo-Pacific. 'It will strengthen NATO and we're the politicians signing it today; But this is a treaty that will define the relationship between our two nations and safeguard the security of our country for our children and our children's children to come. 'So this is a historic day.' The two ministers have been joined in a series of meetings by Foreign Minster Penny Wong and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy this week. The treaty signing also comes as the largest British flotilla in 30 years arrives in Darwin, with the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier docking in Darwin on Wednesday. It was the first time a British aircraft carrier visited Australia since 1997, and brought troops to take part in the massive Talisman Sabre exercises, which run annually across northern Queensland and PNG.
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
‘Good to go': Why now is the best time for Aussies to lodge tax returns
With the average Aussie tax refund sitting at around $1,177 ING's Matt Bowen shares his top tips on how to make sure you don't waste a penny. Patient taxpayers with simple affairs have been given the thumbs up to lodge their returns after more than 90 million pieces of information was pre-filled into Australian myGov accounts. Four weeks into the new financial year, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) said 'it's time to lodge'. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: How to make the most of your tax refund. 'You've been patiently waiting, but now you're good to go,' Assistant Commissioner Rob Thomson said. 'Whether you lodge using a registered tax agent or lodge yourself through myTax, pre-fill information will now be available.' Thomson said taxpayers should check that pre-populated information from employers, banks, government agencies and private health insurers is accurate. They then need to work out what is missing and calculate any deductions they are entitled to. 'Don't forget that you need to include all sources of income in your tax return,' Thomson said. 'This includes side-hustles, linked income from providing ride sourcing services or selling services via an app. 'Remember, the ATO has 40 industry and occupation specific guides to assist you in what you can claim and what records are required to prove it.' Assistant Commissioner Rob Thomson said that the ATO had completed pre-fill of over 91 million pieces of information available for individual tax returns from employers, banks, government agencies and private health insurers. Credit: Australian Taxation Office Australians can file their tax returns from July 1, but experts suggest not getting twisted up in that date. That is because you want to make sure your document is complete and accurate before you hit the lodge button, to avoid a follow-up call from the ATO. CPA Australia tax lead Jenny Wong said it is not uncommon for early lodgers to have to amend their returns later, so holding fire can save you in the long run. 'Cost-of-living pressures could mean some people are eager to lodge their tax return as quickly as possible to access a refund, but it's important to be patient, gather your evidence and claim everything you are entitled to,' Wong said. 'Firing the starting pistol on your tax return too quickly means you could end up shooting yourself in the foot.' Deductions must be related to purchases made before June 30 if you intend to claim them in this tax return. What you can claim will depend on what you do for work. The ATO and accountants know the difference. 'It is important that taxpayers take reasonable care when lodging, as penalties may apply where people have not taken reasonable care and increase when they are reckless or intentionally provide false information,' Thomson said. More than $2.2 billion in penalties were dished out to taxpayers who failed to comply with their obligations in 2023-2024. October 31 is the deadline for Australians lodging their return themselves. For those using the services of a registered tax agent, you have more time — until May the following year. But make sure you have reached out to them and have the ball rolling before the start of November. If you fail to lodge in time, the ATO may impose penalties, starting with a $330 fine. 'We will consider your circumstances when deciding what action to take,' Thomson said. 'It is important that taxpayers take reasonable care when lodging as penalties may apply where people have not taken reasonable care and increase when they are reckless or intentionally provide false information. 'Our preferred approach is to work with taxpayers to help them meet their tax obligations.' Most refunds are issued within two weeks, but the process can take longer if the ATO has queries. 'This process cannot be sped up, even if you call us,' Thomson said. 'You can keep track of your return by logging into the ATO app or ATO online services through myGov. Paper tax returns can take up to 50 days to process. Wong said there is a misconception that lodging your return straight away puts you at the front of the queue for a refund, 'but it's not that simple'. 'Take your time, get your facts right, and lodge a full and comprehensive claim when you're ready,' she said.
The Age
2 hours ago
- The Age
It's a long shot. But Sydney FC should be applauded for having a crack at Thomas Müller
Domestically, the Australian football economy continues to shrink. Club distributions are down from over $3 million per season to an all-time low of $530,000, and so most clubs don't even bother trying to sign big names. It's beyond them, and there is little appetite from club owners to dig their hands even further into their pockets. And when they do, they have to settle for the likes of Douglas Costa, who had already had his run through MLS by the time he washed up at the Sky Blues last season, but has proved to be a worthy signing, or Juan Mata, who was many years past his peak when Western Sydney Wanderers had the chance to grab him - as evidenced by his on-field output. Mata might yet return next season, but if he does, he'll be a luxury add-on for the Wanderers, rather than a key starting player. A-League clubs have largely pivoted towards bringing through academy players - and so they should. They've finally learned how to turn young, homegrown talent into sizeable transfer fees, and flipping kids for cash is the only way they can be sustainable in the long term. It's good for the game, too. It's a shift that is already benefiting the Socceroos and, in turn, will reinforce the A-League's legitimacy as a breeding ground and relevance for the many fans in Australia who follow European football but not the local product. The more that A-League alumni players can reach the top levels, the more it says to the unconverted that our competition is worth keeping a close eye on. But that can't be all that the A-League is, or will be. For one thing, those youngsters need to have hardened pros next to them in the dressing room to learn from. If the A-League was too reliant on experienced players in the past, it now runs the risk of going too far the other way. A careful balance has to be struck. Star power has always been the thing that moves the needle in this country, but it's never been more true than today. As mass culture continues to splinter into a million micro-niches, the need to have something - or someone - with cut-through power is critical. Müller is that sort of someone. And for every player who opts for the megabucks, there might be one per cent of them who are happy to forego those earnings for the glorious Australian lifestyle, of which the appeal to foreigners we sometimes underestimate because we're so lucky to experience it 24/7. Del Piero, don't forget, turned down more money elsewhere - and even a contract offer from Liverpool - because he was so attracted by the wonders of Sydney. Loading To ask the question of Müller is to send a message to the rest of the football world - and to sceptical local fans - that the A-League still has ambition. There's no risk in trying. In fact, the risk is not trying, and never knowing if he might have been the next Del Piero. At worst, you get a polite rejection. At best, you spark the sort of rare moment that can reignite interest in the domestic game, especially at a time when eyeballs are hard to win.
