Has Julia promised to give the Henry tax review another look and to reassess the mining tax? I must have missed that when I was in Greece?
Was announced during the Oakshott/Windsor press conference. Tax review is to be fully released to the public and undergo cross-party scrutiny before the end of 2011 - allegedly!
Does anyone have any objections to the mining tax? I'm completely pro-mining tax. We've gotta get as much out of this as we can, because when the resources dry up the big companies will just up and leave.
JULIA GILLARD won the contest to lead the next government because of her weakness, as well as her strengths.
The two independents who crowned Gillard yesterday wanted the leader who is more likely to run Parliament to its full three-year term.
One of the new kingmakers, Tony Windsor, said that Tony Abbott was more likely to run to a new election as soon as possible. Asked why he thought so, Windsor replied: "Because I think they would be more likely to win."
Labor, however, is "more likely to be here for a longer period of time''.
The longevity of the new government, he added, was "key" to his decision. In other words, Windsor has chosen deliberately to side with the party that he thinks is more afraid of facing the Australian people at another election.
Asked at his press conference specifically if he were favouring the party that was less likely to win the support of the voters at an election, he replied: "That's my call."
I think they already have by backing Labour over the coalition. Windsor doesn't seem to worry as he will retire at the next election (was apparently giving it serious contemplation this time around) which may be why Oakeshott is "asking" for advice from his 4 and 6 year old about taking up a ministry position (better parliamentary pension).If the independents roll on the mining tax, then there will most likely be a big backlash in their electorates and they may well lose their seats.
Oakeshott's smartest move would be to ask to be nominated as speaker. Then he still be seen as an independent.
Oakeshott - endless blathering.
I have huge objections to it. They are as follows:
1, Mineral resources belong to the states and thus should be their right to tax or not. The Federal government should stay out of it.
2, The mining companies already pay company taxes, like everyone else does. Why should they be singled out for extra taxation?
3, Once the federal government goes after the resources industries, what's to stop them from gouging other industries they don't like? Watch out anyone who works for a bank, you'll be next.
4, Taxes should be equitable and as broad based as possible, this tax is neither.
5, Even though the feds say they would refund state based royalties, what's to stop them from changing their minds?
6, This whole process was done without any kind of consultation beforehand. Not acceptable in my opinion. If you're going to do it, do it like the Hawke/Keating government did with the petroleum companies in the 1980's.
7, The rate and threshold of the tax coming in runs the very real risk of making our regime internationally uncompetitive. The rates are higher than many other countries who have a similar royalties setup.
8, This whole tax seems to be based on an emotional premise, rather than any kind of sound economic analysis. By that I mean, this whole business of "fair" share and the furphy of foreign ownership of mining companies. Taxation, in my humble opinion, is not to be used as the baseball bat of social engineering to penalise things that the government of the day either doesn't approve or is envious of.
9, The original construction of the 40% underwriting of non-performing projects is a form of corporate welfare, something I am vehemently against.
That's just the start of it. This and the Internet filter meant that the ALP were dead last on my ballot paper.
And the bonus would be less long-winded speeches like at the press conference yesterday...FFS could he repeat himself any more times without saying anything?? Talk about milking the moment in the sun.
Tony Windsor - short, sharp answers.
Oakeshott - endless blathering.