Please, Please, Mr Premier!

by | Sep 14, 2011 | Press Releases

photo credit: sky_mitchState Treasury’s brief to the incoming Baillieu Government, the Blue Book, urges tax reform to drive Victoria’s competitiveness. The Blue Book has apparently been leaked to The Age. It strongly recommends lowering the burden of state taxes,...

NSW Stamp Duty a foul and putrid mess

by | Sep 8, 2011 | Articles

photo credit: dcmasterBarry O’Farrell was elected Premier of NSW in March this year. His first budget announced Tuesday raised a storm of protest – not over a realignment of government priorities to his conservative Coalition’s agenda, but on Stamp Duty. The previous...

Tax: It’s a Sin!

by | Sep 6, 2011 | Articles

photo credit: cobaThe taxing of alcohol allows slimy politicians to pound their chests about the damage the drug causes and claim high moral authority for sweeping the money into Consolidated Revenue. Slimy? Yes! Governments say alcohol taxes are a policy tool – to...

House Prices falling at 9.5%: Don’t Buy Now!

by | Sep 1, 2011 | Commentary

photo credit: Lionoche1 September 2011 MELBOURNE:- The RP Data‐Rismark July Hedonic Home Value Index released yesterday confirms house prices are falling at an annualized 9.5 per cent. “The new downward trend in house prices is firmly established and will proceed...

Rethink that Fire Insurance Levy, Mr Premier

by | Aug 30, 2011 | Press Releases

  30 August 2011 MELBOURNE:- Massive hikes to the Fire Services Levy are a very poor way to fund bushfire preparations, says Prosper Australia. “While this move may appear sensible, if insurance premiums in fire-prone areas rise to the $1,000 mentioned in the...