Not long ago Labor and the Greens wanted the rich to pay more tax — what happened?

THE ALP wants its own news service — the twitterverse comes up with staff suggestions.

THE ALP wants its own news service — the twitterverse comes up with staff suggestions.

Julia Gillard, May 10, 2012:

WE are the Labor Party and we make absolutely no apology for saying we are here to serve low and middle-­income Australians, and Mr Abbott is here to serve the rich. That’s right.

Doorstop interview yesterday:

REPORTER: On income tax rates, shouldn’t high-income earners be asked to contribute to reduce the deficit?

Bill Shorten: We already have a progressive tax system in Australia where high-income earners pay more than lower-income earners … We don’t need to be taxing people who go to work every day because the Abbott government hasn’t got any better ideas.

Fighting a tax on ordinary Australians. Shorten, yesterday:

WE need to see what they actually do, but we will fight a tax increase on ordinary Australians, absolutely.

Ordinary Australians? Peter Martin, The Age, yesterday:

ONE thing is for certain, surgeons, ­financial market dealers and mining engineers will be paying the temporary deficit reduction tax being considered for the budget ... the average taxable income of a surgeon is likely to be $372,500 ... finance traders report average taxable incomes of about $224,000. Mining engineers report average incomes of $154,200.

ABC AM, March 8:

GREENS MP Adam Bandt says the real problem is billionaires not paying enough tax.

Bandt: I’m sick of billionaires telling us that the only way we can make ends meet in the country is if ordinary people pay more and people like Gina Rinehart ... pay less ... even if we just increased tax back to where it was under John Howard — hardly a radical move — we would be in a much better position to afford healthcare that people deserve and to afford schools and the other kind of social spending … Around the world, there are some people who are incredibly wealthy who see it as part of their social duty to lift people out of poverty and to give a bit back to our society.

Christine Milne, ABC Radio National Breakfast, Tuesday:

I’M not prepared to support a deficit levy of this kind.

Milne, National Press Club, September 26, 2012:

TAX is not a dirty word. A suite of ... proposals (including) a fair increase in the top marginal tax rate for millionaires to 50 per cent could raise many billions more.

Jennifer Rajca, The Daily Telegraph, yesterday:

LABOR’S national secretary has written to supporters asking them to reach into their pockets so the party can create its “own news ­service”, just like Crikey. George Wright said they were seeking donations — and an editor — to get the new Labor Herald off the ground.

The twitterverse proposes staff yesterday. Wes Mountain tweets:

ENTERTAINMENT editor: Craig Thomson.

Adam Brereton tweets:

PROPERTY editor: Edward Obeid.

Kimberley Ramplin:

ASTROLOGY with Bob Ellis.

Max Phillips tweets:

“THE benefits of Packer’s casino to Sydney’s working class,” by M. Arbib and K. Bitar

Bevan Shields tweets:

WEEKLY men’s grooming tips with Tim Mathieson.

Elias Jahshan tweets:

EXCLUSIVE: Mark Latham explains how to manage your anger.