‘Green groups push Gillard on carbon tax’

THE AUSTRALIAN – 09/07/2010

Green campaign groups are urging Australia’s new Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, to commit to plans to introduce either a carbon tax or emissions trading scheme in order to ‘limit and put a price tag on pollution’. The Prime Minister has indicated a preference for market-based mechanisms over a carbon tax but confirmed that her government would not move on the ETS during the life of the next parliament, instead choosing to stick to the timetable outlined by former Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. Read the article…

‘Mining industry claims triumph over Henry tax as Rudd goes’

THE INDEPENDENT – 25/06/2010

The mining industry in Australia is using the change of Prime Minister in Australia as an opportunity to reassert its case for the scrapping of the Resources Super Profits Tax (the ‘Henry Tax’). This tax was originally proposed to ensure that Australians got a fair deal from the profits made by mining companies, but has been deeply unpopular with the mining community, who fear it could jeopardise investment. There is uncertainty amongst industry analysts as to whether the change of leadership will see the end of the tax but there is a feeling that it could extend the period of uncertainty for the sector. Read the article…

New South Wales Tribunal recommends congestion taxes

THE AGE – 17/10/08

The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has released its final report on New South Wales’ (NSW) tax system, recommending wide-ranging reform with simple and transparent taxes which would be fairer to both businesses and individuals. The report finds that, while NSW has limited capacity to introduce new taxes in the short-term, ‘there may be merit in considering possible new or increased environmental taxes to redress damage from pollution’. These would include road usage and congestion charges. Read the article…

‘Australia’s luxury car tax keeps backfiring’

THE AUSTRALIAN – 07/10/08

This article argues against the need for a luxury car tax, stating that it was ‘unroadworthy before the budget. It should have been impounded with Wayne Swan’s budget hike. And it turned into a ram raid gone wrong when the Senate got behind the wheel’. One of Australia’s top tax economics denotes it as ‘a crazy populist revenue grab and it surely has taken on a very costly administrative nightmare to satisfy the various fringe interests’. Read the article…