The fire was burning bright and I was sitting close to it, with a beanie on my head and a cup of hot cocoa in my hand, listening to Phillip Adams' Late Night Live. Quite reluctant to leave the warmth of the fire, I lingered a little longer and got caught up listening to Rear Vision posing the question "What’s wrong with Australia’s tax system and can we fix it?"
I don't know what the Rudd Government paid for the Henry Tax Review; I could've given them the answer in one simple sentence: "Increase the rate of GST!" Not that any government would ever think of doing that as it is politically far too sensitive since it affects ALL the voters; in fact, considering an increase of the rate of the GST was specifically EXcluded from the review. Instead, they've been tinkering with the system around the edges, picking the low-hanging fruit belonging to the relatively few so-called "rich" which is always a popular solution with the hoi polloi.
We shall only know on Budget Night at 7.30 p.m. next Tuesday just how much more money Labor will grab from the few "rich" to lavish on the many "disadvantaged", but it was interesting to listen to this podcast.
P.S. For more of the same, click here.
