This Month
Henry tells Chalmers to stop ‘fiddling’ and launch into tax reform
The Albanese government could raise a $50 billion tax on fossil fuel exports and up the GST to lower company and income taxes, the former Treasury head argues.
Three reasons why you should ‘chill out’ over Labor’s super tax
The super tax on unrealised gains is part of the long-overdue and necessary process of tax reform that many have been urging over decades.
Shein shifts Australian marketplace to Singapore, raising tax question
The Chinese online fast fashion giant, which has expanded rapidly with low prices and a large range of merchandise, moved transactions to an overseas entity.
May
WA could benefit from GST reform even if floor is ditched
A dollar-in dollar-out GST system would benefit WA even more than the “forever deal”, raising the prospect of unlikely alliances in the federation.
GST carve-up rewards Victoria’s economic failure
States that are prepared to grow the national pie should not be punished with an ever-dwindling slice.
Qld asks Chalmers to rethink GST so it doesn’t pay for Vic mistakes
State Treasurer David Janetzki says the boost to Victoria’s share due to its COVID-19 failings was unfair.
NSW ‘carrying federation’ on GST and will push reforms: Mookhey
Daniel Mookhey says NSW Government will “call out” federal Labor over difference, despite its “powerful mandate” after re-election
April
Liberal candidate bailed on company before multimillion-dollar GST hit
Liquidation of company appears to have left millions in GST unpaid after $11 million gain from property sale distributed to unnamed investors.
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.