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2008-09 Federal Budget: Full Text Of Treasurer’s Speech

This is the full text of Treasurer Wayne Swan’s Budget Speech to the House of Representatives. Click the play button to listen to the speech:

Text of Treasurer Wayne Swan’s first Budget speech to the House of Representatives.

Mr Speaker, I move that the Bill now be read a second time.

Introduction

This Budget is designed to meet the big challenges of the future.

It is a Budget that strengthens Australia’s economic foundations, and delivers for working families under pressure.

It is the responsible Budget our nation needs at this time of international turbulence, and high inflation at home.

A Budget carefully designed to fight inflation, and ensure we meet the uncertainties of the future from a position of strength. [Read more…]


Howard And Costello Offer Tax Cuts Package

On the first full day of the 2007 election campaign, the coalition has announced a tax package offering income tax reductions across the board.

A re-elected coalition government is proposing to reduce the number of tax brackets to four over a five-year period: 15, 30, 35 and 40 cents in the dollar. It proposes raising the tax-free threshold to $14,000 next year.

The tax cuts are worth more than $34 billion.

The aim of the restructure is to arrive at a tax-free threshold of $20,000 with the top marginal rate set at 40 cents. [Read more…]


New Taxation Era As GST Begins

Major taxation changes, including the introduction of a 10% Goods and Services Tax, began today in Australia. Reaction to the changes is likely to determine the fate of the Prime Minister, John Howard, his government and the Opposition over the coming months.

HowardThe Wholesale Sales Tax (WST) system that has operated since the 1930s is now abolished. The differential rates of WST operated as taxes on business production. They have been replaced with a flat 10% tax which covers not only goods, but previously untaxed services. The GST operates at the consumption end of the production chain.

Basic food, education, child-care and health are exempt from the GST. Food was included in the government’s original plan, but exempted following the deal struck with the Australian Democrats last year that ensured the passage of the legislation through the Federal Parliament. [Read more…]


Premiers’ Conference: Howard and Costello Press Conference

This is the text of the press conference held by the Prime Minister, John Howard, and the Treasurer, Peter Costello.

It follows the Premiers’ Conference which reached a new agreement on Commonwealth-State financial arrangements.

Text of John Howard and Peter Costello press conference.

PRIME MINISTER:

Ladies and gentlemen, today we have had an extraordinarily successful Premiers’ Conference. We’ve reached agreement on all outstanding matters relating to the financial agreement between the governments which has now been signed, sealed and delivered. And the last act in the dramatic transformation of Australia’s taxation system and the last deed required to take this country into the 21st Century with a financial and taxation system fit for the 21st Century is for the Australian Senate to take heed of what the governments of Australia, the Federal Government and the six State governments and the two Territorial governments of Australia have done. [Read more…]