Peta Credlin: More Aussies depend on productive work of fewer of us

We need to see the Albanese government’s so-called productivity summit for what it really is – Labor’s Tax and Spend summit – and drop the pretence, writes Peta Credlin.

The Albanese government’s so-called productivity summit is dead.

The unions want a four-day working week, how’s that boosting productivity? The Treasurer wants to fix his budget mess without showing the discipline needed to cut spending, so that means up go your taxes – how’s that sustainable? We need to see this for what it really is – Labor’s Tax and Spend summit – and drop the pretence.

But, as bad as that sounds, this is worse. Last week, research from the Centre for Independent Studies, showed that some 50 per cent of voters now rely on government for most of their income, either through public sector wages, welfare payments, or the taxpayer subsidies that sustain jobs in outfits like the NDIS.

More and more of us are dependent for our living on the productive work of fewer and fewer of us.

“This dependence poses a formidable opposition for any politician trying to curb the growth in public expenditure”, the report said.

What’s more, even at existing levels, the top 10 per cent of income taxpayers already pay some 50 per cent of total tax; and 60 per cent of the population are getting more back in payments from government that they pay-in via tax.

In other words, more and more of us are dependent for our living on the productive work of fewer and fewer of us.

Obviously, we do need to become a more productive economy – and fast – if Australian living standards are to be maintained but that’s got to happen without new or increased taxes that destroy incentive.

As Australians, more and more of us are not paying our way. And, as a nation built on the export of coal, gas, resources and agriculture, pretty soon we won’t be able to pay our way as a country either.

THUMBS UP

Barnaby Joyce for his private member’s bill to scrap Net Zero. It’s about time we debated the massive costs of reducing our emissions when other countries aren’t cutting theirs.

THUMBS DOWN

The Albanese government’s First Nations Ambassador who’s amassed a $730k travel bill over two years. Why do we need a “First Nations” ambassador anyway when we already have diplomats overseas to represent all Australians?

Watch Peta on Credlin on Sky News, weeknights at 6pm