logo
Greens strike conciliatory tone on super tax changes

Greens strike conciliatory tone on super tax changes

West Australian8 hours ago

The Greens are "absolutely ready" to work with Labor to make proposed changes to superannuation, acknowledging the mandate voters gave the Albanese government at the election.
Labor is looking to double the tax rate of super balances above $3 million to 30 per cent, in a bid to limit the number of wealthy people using their balances for tax deductions rather than their retirements.
The coalition has vowed to oppose the changes, labelling them unfair.
With the government lacking a majority in the Senate, it needs the Greens or the coalition to pass legislation through the parliament.
Greens treasury spokesman Nick McKim said he expected to begin negotiations with Treasurer Jim Chalmers before the new parliament returns at the end of July.
"We are absolutely ready to work with with the treasurer and with Labor to try and move the superannuation system a little bit back towards what its original intent was when it was set up," he told ABC's RN on Monday.
"We want the system to be as fair and as strong as it can be in terms of providing for a dignified retirement for working Australians, and that'll be our aim."
Senator McKim said Dr Chalmers was a "re-elected treasurer in a re-elected government" which had taken the proposal to the May poll.
Striking a more conciliatory tone, the Greens have previously been criticised for delaying Labor's housing bills during a crisis.
The minor party lost three of its four lower house seats to Labor in a near wipe-out in the House of Representatives.
Former Greens leader Adam Bandt also lost his seat after 15 years in parliament.
The vast majority of Australians are unlikely to feel the impact of Labor's proposal, with the median super balance for 60 to 64-year-olds sitting at about $200,000 for men and $150,000 for women.
Deputy Nationals leader Kevin Hogan said the coalition remained strongly opposed to taxing unrealised gains.
"I don't know of many examples around the world that do that, and it's very damaging," he told ABC's RN.
"The non indexation of that makes an exceptionally penalising policy as well."

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

O'Neil says she's not a YIMBY, but here's how she plans to help fix the housing shortage
O'Neil says she's not a YIMBY, but here's how she plans to help fix the housing shortage

The Age

time39 minutes ago

  • The Age

O'Neil says she's not a YIMBY, but here's how she plans to help fix the housing shortage

Planning laws are placing the interests of anti-development residents above Australians who want affordable homes, federal Housing Minister Clare O'Neil has declared as the government faces falling short of its own promise to build 1.2 million homes by the end of the decade. O'Neil said she expected Labor's $10 billion election promise to build 100,000 homes specifically for first home buyers would be fast-tracked through the statesto avoid the quicksand of planning rules. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has handed her more responsibility to help fix the housing shortage. O'Neil's second-term focus to overhaul planning schemes and drive up construction by slashing building regulations represents a shift from Labor's first-term agenda centred on social housing and its shared equity scheme. 'Planning laws at the state level are being used much too much to protect existing residents, and not enough to address the fact that we've got millions of people who are in housing distress,' O'Neil said in an interview with this masthead. Loading 'We need more housing of all kinds, and medium-density housing in the middle-ring suburbs is obviously going to be a really important part of the mix.' Slow and rigid planning regulations are a key reason that most analysts estimate Labor is on track to fall more than 200,000 homes short of its 2022 budget target to build 1.2 million properties between 2024 and mid-2029. A major problem is that planning laws are the domain of state and local governments. O'Neil pledged to use every tool at her disposal to shift the dial to reduce what she described as the 'thicket of regulation' builders faced. 'There is a lot of work that we're all going to need to do in the next three years, and I'd include the Commonwealth in that. None of this is an attack on the states. We've all been a part of this problem, and we all need to be a part of the solution,' she said.

O'Neil says she's not a YIMBY, but here's how she plans to help fix the housing shortage
O'Neil says she's not a YIMBY, but here's how she plans to help fix the housing shortage

Sydney Morning Herald

time39 minutes ago

  • Sydney Morning Herald

O'Neil says she's not a YIMBY, but here's how she plans to help fix the housing shortage

Planning laws are placing the interests of anti-development residents above Australians who want affordable homes, federal Housing Minister Clare O'Neil has declared as the government faces falling short of its own promise to build 1.2 million homes by the end of the decade. O'Neil said she expected Labor's $10 billion election promise to build 100,000 homes specifically for first home buyers would be fast-tracked through the statesto avoid the quicksand of planning rules. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has handed her more responsibility to help fix the housing shortage. O'Neil's second-term focus to overhaul planning schemes and drive up construction by slashing building regulations represents a shift from Labor's first-term agenda centred on social housing and its shared equity scheme. 'Planning laws at the state level are being used much too much to protect existing residents, and not enough to address the fact that we've got millions of people who are in housing distress,' O'Neil said in an interview with this masthead. Loading 'We need more housing of all kinds, and medium-density housing in the middle-ring suburbs is obviously going to be a really important part of the mix.' Slow and rigid planning regulations are a key reason that most analysts estimate Labor is on track to fall more than 200,000 homes short of its 2022 budget target to build 1.2 million properties between 2024 and mid-2029. A major problem is that planning laws are the domain of state and local governments. O'Neil pledged to use every tool at her disposal to shift the dial to reduce what she described as the 'thicket of regulation' builders faced. 'There is a lot of work that we're all going to need to do in the next three years, and I'd include the Commonwealth in that. None of this is an attack on the states. We've all been a part of this problem, and we all need to be a part of the solution,' she said.

Australian journo hit with rubber bullet at US protest
Australian journo hit with rubber bullet at US protest

The Advertiser

time39 minutes ago

  • The Advertiser

Australian journo hit with rubber bullet at US protest

A senator wants the prime minister to seek an urgent explanation from US President Donald Trump after police shot an Australian TV reporter with a rubber bullet in Los Angeles. Nine Network's US correspondent Lauren Tomasi was recording a piece to camera about protests against immigration raids when she appeared to be struck in the leg, with the incident caught live on camera. "After hours of standing off, this situation has now rapidly deteriorated, the LAPD moving in on horseback, firing rubber bullets at protesters, moving them on through the heart of LA," Ms Tomasi said. Seconds later, she was shot with a rubber bullet. Footage of the incident appeared to show an officer taking aim in the direction of Ms Tomasi and then firing. Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson for media and communications, condemned the shooting. "US authorities shooting an Australian journalist is simply shocking," she said. "It is completely unacceptable and must be called out. "The Prime Minister must seek an urgent explanation from the US administration." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has yet to speak publicly on the incident. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles declined to comment on US immigration policy under President Trump, but said he was glad to hear Ms Tomasi was OK. "At the end of the day, how America operates its own immigration system is really a matter for the United States, and how it manages its own internal law enforcement is a matter for the United States," he told Sky News. It follows a similar incident in 2020 when Seven Network correspondent Amelia Brace was shot by US police with non-lethal rounds and struck with a truncheon during a Black Lives Matter protest. Ms Brace and cameraman Tim Myers were in Washington DC's Lafayette Square when officers began aggressively clearing the area ahead of a surprise appearance by Mr Trump. She later told US Congress she was shot in the legs and backside and Mr Myers was hit in the neck by non-lethal rounds from a police automatic weapon. A senator wants the prime minister to seek an urgent explanation from US President Donald Trump after police shot an Australian TV reporter with a rubber bullet in Los Angeles. Nine Network's US correspondent Lauren Tomasi was recording a piece to camera about protests against immigration raids when she appeared to be struck in the leg, with the incident caught live on camera. "After hours of standing off, this situation has now rapidly deteriorated, the LAPD moving in on horseback, firing rubber bullets at protesters, moving them on through the heart of LA," Ms Tomasi said. Seconds later, she was shot with a rubber bullet. Footage of the incident appeared to show an officer taking aim in the direction of Ms Tomasi and then firing. Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson for media and communications, condemned the shooting. "US authorities shooting an Australian journalist is simply shocking," she said. "It is completely unacceptable and must be called out. "The Prime Minister must seek an urgent explanation from the US administration." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has yet to speak publicly on the incident. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles declined to comment on US immigration policy under President Trump, but said he was glad to hear Ms Tomasi was OK. "At the end of the day, how America operates its own immigration system is really a matter for the United States, and how it manages its own internal law enforcement is a matter for the United States," he told Sky News. It follows a similar incident in 2020 when Seven Network correspondent Amelia Brace was shot by US police with non-lethal rounds and struck with a truncheon during a Black Lives Matter protest. Ms Brace and cameraman Tim Myers were in Washington DC's Lafayette Square when officers began aggressively clearing the area ahead of a surprise appearance by Mr Trump. She later told US Congress she was shot in the legs and backside and Mr Myers was hit in the neck by non-lethal rounds from a police automatic weapon. A senator wants the prime minister to seek an urgent explanation from US President Donald Trump after police shot an Australian TV reporter with a rubber bullet in Los Angeles. Nine Network's US correspondent Lauren Tomasi was recording a piece to camera about protests against immigration raids when she appeared to be struck in the leg, with the incident caught live on camera. "After hours of standing off, this situation has now rapidly deteriorated, the LAPD moving in on horseback, firing rubber bullets at protesters, moving them on through the heart of LA," Ms Tomasi said. Seconds later, she was shot with a rubber bullet. Footage of the incident appeared to show an officer taking aim in the direction of Ms Tomasi and then firing. Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson for media and communications, condemned the shooting. "US authorities shooting an Australian journalist is simply shocking," she said. "It is completely unacceptable and must be called out. "The Prime Minister must seek an urgent explanation from the US administration." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has yet to speak publicly on the incident. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles declined to comment on US immigration policy under President Trump, but said he was glad to hear Ms Tomasi was OK. "At the end of the day, how America operates its own immigration system is really a matter for the United States, and how it manages its own internal law enforcement is a matter for the United States," he told Sky News. It follows a similar incident in 2020 when Seven Network correspondent Amelia Brace was shot by US police with non-lethal rounds and struck with a truncheon during a Black Lives Matter protest. Ms Brace and cameraman Tim Myers were in Washington DC's Lafayette Square when officers began aggressively clearing the area ahead of a surprise appearance by Mr Trump. She later told US Congress she was shot in the legs and backside and Mr Myers was hit in the neck by non-lethal rounds from a police automatic weapon. A senator wants the prime minister to seek an urgent explanation from US President Donald Trump after police shot an Australian TV reporter with a rubber bullet in Los Angeles. Nine Network's US correspondent Lauren Tomasi was recording a piece to camera about protests against immigration raids when she appeared to be struck in the leg, with the incident caught live on camera. "After hours of standing off, this situation has now rapidly deteriorated, the LAPD moving in on horseback, firing rubber bullets at protesters, moving them on through the heart of LA," Ms Tomasi said. Seconds later, she was shot with a rubber bullet. Footage of the incident appeared to show an officer taking aim in the direction of Ms Tomasi and then firing. Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson for media and communications, condemned the shooting. "US authorities shooting an Australian journalist is simply shocking," she said. "It is completely unacceptable and must be called out. "The Prime Minister must seek an urgent explanation from the US administration." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has yet to speak publicly on the incident. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles declined to comment on US immigration policy under President Trump, but said he was glad to hear Ms Tomasi was OK. "At the end of the day, how America operates its own immigration system is really a matter for the United States, and how it manages its own internal law enforcement is a matter for the United States," he told Sky News. It follows a similar incident in 2020 when Seven Network correspondent Amelia Brace was shot by US police with non-lethal rounds and struck with a truncheon during a Black Lives Matter protest. Ms Brace and cameraman Tim Myers were in Washington DC's Lafayette Square when officers began aggressively clearing the area ahead of a surprise appearance by Mr Trump. She later told US Congress she was shot in the legs and backside and Mr Myers was hit in the neck by non-lethal rounds from a police automatic weapon.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store