March
Players in alleged $200m GST scam turn on each other in court
Each of the two former directors of pub-owning company Virtical say the other was responsible for invoices that could reveal the biggest GST tax fraud in Australia’s history if proven.
GST shapes up as Trump trade tariff exemption stumbling block
The US President says he will give ‘a lot of countries breaks’ but officials warn it remains difficult to tell what will be counted as a trade barrier.
Three reasons Victoria has joined Tasmania, SA as a beggar state
Unless it can substantially improve its productivity performance, Victoria will continue to be the butt of sneering from richer states.
Debt-laden ‘poor state’ Victoria to get GST bailout
Victoria will become a “mendicant state” next financial year, receiving a $3.9 billion boost in GST as Queensland suffers a $2.4 billion reduction in funding.
February
‘See what’s going on up there’: WA premier invites teals to Pilbara
Roger Cook will ask all re-elected teal MPs to tour the mineral-rich Pilbara as he seeks to head off potential environmental reforms from federal Labor.
Meet the men behind ‘the worst policy decision of the 21st century’
The GST deal, criticised as the worst public policy decision since Federation, is again under scrutiny as Premier Roger Cook promises hundreds of millions in handouts ahead of the state election.
Costello slams Trump tariff threat on Australia over ‘unfair’ GST
The Trump administration has no grounds to punish Australia for its goods and services tax, former treasurer Peter Costello says.
December 2024
WA GST deal blows out to $54b
Western Australia will receive an extra $21.1 billion over the next four years as part of the agreement, which veteran budget watcher Chris Richardson says is a “travesty”.
Govt has helped pay for more than 100k flights to one FIFO town in WA
A West Australian government scheme designed to subsidise regional flights to Perth for country residents has ballooned to quadruple its original cost.
October 2024
Do you know this week’s news? Answer these 10 questions
Have you been paying attention this week? Test your knowledge across politics, business and world news.
September 2024
John Palasty jumps from Virtical’s sinking ship
The developer is trying to distance himself from Virtical’s collapsing empire, stepping down and selling his shares to a director of multiple failed companies.
ATO found pub empire made ‘fictitious’ GST refund claims
Virtical Group made false claims for millions in GST refunds based on invoices for construction that did not happen on property it did not own, the tax office has found.
August 2024
The ATO has this overlooked property tax in its crosshairs
Small-scale property developers need to be aware that GST is applicable in certain circumstances. Read the 10 tips for mum and dad developers.
July 2024
Private credit crackdown; Tension at Olympics; Musk dares doubters
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
Saul Eslake’s one-man mission to undo the GST deal – and make WA pay
The Tasmanian economist has drawn the ire of an entire state with his campaign to reverse “the worst public policy decision of the 21st century”.
June 2024
NSW budget shows a $6b GST hit, but Mookhey says it’s double
NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey insists the state budget has been “ripped off” $12 billion in GST, even though his budget papers show a shortfall of half that amount.
The secret reason behind NSW’s ‘nonsense’ claim on $12b GST shortfall
NSW’s AAA credit rating is on the line. The federal government, other states and rating agencies believe NSW made an error forecasting GST revenues.
May 2024
Investors to be stung by $250m in new advice fees
A tax office ruling will see investors pay 7.5 per cent more for advice obtained from super funds and platforms, despite government moves to cut advice costs.
Tax reform needed to break Australia’s economic inertia: think tank
The Blueprint Institute says the Australian economy is in a state of inertia and needs ambitious tax reform, calling for more focus on consumption, land and resources.
WA GST deal to cost federal taxpayers $53b and rising: budget
The deal will cost $44 billion more than originally promised, but neither side of politics dares change it for fear of losing seats in the west.