Australian budget

By Leith van Onselen In June last year, the Australian Senate cross-bench voted with the Turnbull Government to pass its $23.5 billion ‘Gonski 2.0″ needs-based schools funding bill.

By Leith van Onselen The Turnbull Government’s company tax cuts package was given a stay of execution yesterday after One Nation leader, Seantor Pauline Hanson, missed the vote that would have killed the legislation.

By Leith van Onselen Legislation to allow Australia to ratify the OECD’s multilateral tax treaty convention has been passed by parliament.

By Leith van Onselen It has been dubbed the “biggest public policy scandal in Australian history: the systematic rorting of the vocational education and training system (VET)”.

It’s desperate measures for a desperate PM, via Domainfax: The Turnbull government offered to exclude Australia’s big four banks from its company tax cuts in a last-minute pitch to gain the support of One Nation for the signature economic policy.

By Leith van Onselen With the Turnbull Government’s company tax cuts package facing near certain defeat in the Senate this week, the rent-seeking Business Council of Australia (BCA) has launched one last desperate bid to have the legislation passed.

By Leith van Onselen Over the past two years, various reports have emerged documenting the billions in taxpayer funds that have flowed to consultants, especially the Big Four accounting firms.

By Leith van Onselen The Government has just issued the Parliament program for next week and has committed to a vote on the company tax legislation.

The Turnbull Government has welcomed data showing that Australia’s Bulk Billing rates have hit an all-time high.

Via Kouk: Get ready for a February budget An early budget is the likely scenario given the Federal election is set to be held in May 2019.

By Leith van Onselen With Australia’s Senate all but certain to defeat the Turnbull Government’s Bill to lower the tax rate for all companies with turnovers above $50 million by 2026-27, Bluescope chief Mark Vassella has called on the Government to allow companies to write-off new investments.

By Leith van Onselen The Turnbull Government has passed legislation to make university students repay their loans at a lower threshold has passed the Senate.

By Leith van Onselen Despite it playing a key role in the Coalition’s poor showing at last month’s ‘Super Saturday’ bi-elections, the Turnbull Government over the weekend vowed to take its full tax cut package to the upcoming Federal Election.

With the royal commission showing that bank staff are busy working out how to keep billing dead customers, or busy coming up with reasons to explain why they have charged fees for services not provided, its no wonder that there isn’t enough time to train staff in Australia properly: No.

By Leith van Onselen The conga-line of groups calling for a lift in Australia’s pathetically low Newstart Allowance for unemployed workers (the ‘dole’) continues to grow.

By Leith van Onselen Two articles in the mainstream media today highlight the divergent views on Australia’s higher education system.