Surfers paddle out to protest deep sea mining
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Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Big business quick to veto productivity tax reform
Well, you can forget about Treasurer Jim Chalmers' three-day roundtable discussions leading to any improvement in the economy's productivity and growth, let alone getting the budget back under control. Late last week, the Business Council of Australia (BCA) persuaded all of Canberra's many other business lobby groups to join it in rejecting out of hand the Productivity Commission's proposal for reform of the company tax system which, the commission argued, would increase businesses' incentive to invest more in productivity-enhancing plant and equipment, without any net reduction in company tax collections. The proposal is for the rate of company tax to be cut for all but our biggest 500 companies, while introducing a 5 per cent tax on the net cash flow of all companies. The join statement by 24 business lobby groups says that 'while some businesses may benefit under the proposal, it risks all Australian consumers and businesses paying more for the things they buy every day – groceries, fuel and other daily essentials'. Get it? This is the lobbyists' oldest trick: 'We're not concerned about what the tax change would do to our profits, dear reader, we're just worried about what it would do you and your pocket. It's not us we worry about, it's our customers.' Loading Suddenly, their professed concern about the lack of productivity improvement and slow growth is out the window, and now it's the cost of living they're deeply worried about. They've been urging governments to increase the GST for years, but now they don't want higher prices. Yeah, sure. Bet you didn't know there are as many as 24 different business lobby groups in the capital. Their role is to advance the narrowly defined interests of their paying clients back in the rest of Oz by means fair or foul. They're not paid to help the government reach a deal we can all live with, nor to suggest that their clients worry about anything other than their own immediate interests. Canberra calls this lobbying. Economists call it rent-seeking. You press the government for special deals at the expense of someone else, while ensuring you contribute as little as possible. This, apparently, is the way democracy is meant to work.
The Age
2 hours ago
- The Age
Big business quick to veto productivity tax reform
Well, you can forget about Treasurer Jim Chalmers' three-day roundtable discussions leading to any improvement in the economy's productivity and growth, let alone getting the budget back under control. Late last week, the Business Council of Australia (BCA) persuaded all of Canberra's many other business lobby groups to join it in rejecting out of hand the Productivity Commission's proposal for reform of the company tax system which, the commission argued, would increase businesses' incentive to invest more in productivity-enhancing plant and equipment, without any net reduction in company tax collections. The proposal is for the rate of company tax to be cut for all but our biggest 500 companies, while introducing a 5 per cent tax on the net cash flow of all companies. The join statement by 24 business lobby groups says that 'while some businesses may benefit under the proposal, it risks all Australian consumers and businesses paying more for the things they buy every day – groceries, fuel and other daily essentials'. Get it? This is the lobbyists' oldest trick: 'We're not concerned about what the tax change would do to our profits, dear reader, we're just worried about what it would do you and your pocket. It's not us we worry about, it's our customers.' Loading Suddenly, their professed concern about the lack of productivity improvement and slow growth is out the window, and now it's the cost of living they're deeply worried about. They've been urging governments to increase the GST for years, but now they don't want higher prices. Yeah, sure. Bet you didn't know there are as many as 24 different business lobby groups in the capital. Their role is to advance the narrowly defined interests of their paying clients back in the rest of Oz by means fair or foul. They're not paid to help the government reach a deal we can all live with, nor to suggest that their clients worry about anything other than their own immediate interests. Canberra calls this lobbying. Economists call it rent-seeking. You press the government for special deals at the expense of someone else, while ensuring you contribute as little as possible. This, apparently, is the way democracy is meant to work.
9 News
7 hours ago
- 9 News
Pro-Palestine protesters barred from Melbourne bridge
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Thousands of pro-Palestine protesters were met with a wall of police refusing to let them onto the King Street Bridge in Melbourne today. The tense showdown followed a peaceful march through the city. However, some pent-up frustration broke into anger, with riot police seen in the area. The group assembled outside the State Library at midday and wound its way through the heart of the city toward the King Street Bridge. (Asanka Ratnayake) A protester speaks to riot police as people march during a pro-Palestinian rally. (Getty) The group assembled outside the State Library at midday and wound its way through the heart of the city towards the King Street Bridge. Police had sealed it off before anyone got close. A lone counter-protester stood out in the crowd and was taken away in handcuffs. After 21 months of marching it was more than just a Sunday rally for the action group amid increasingly upsetting reports of starvation from Gaza. It was the 92nd gathering of this group and they say they will continue to March every Sunday until they're satisfied there's a ceasefire. As the main protest dissolved and moved back to the State Library, a smaller storm of troublemakers splintered off. The Australian flag was burned as paint hit the concrete As the main protest dissolved, and moved back to the state library a smaller storm of troublemakers splintered off. (Getty) The handful that stayed behind continued to stir chaos, planting themselves in traffic. Police said they feared the worst as they tried to control the crowd, which dwarfed the numbers organisers had expected. CONTACT US
