Topic: Anyone up for a hit around Melbourne - Sunday 1st

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Topic: Anyone up for a hit around Melbourne - Sunday 1st

Anybody up for a hit in Melbourne this Sunday (or Saturday AM)?

I live central and don’t mind travelling. Don’t have any particular courses in mind, so I’m open for suggestions :)

Topic: Kevin Rudd's Handout

yep, and as some of the (opposition) senators were saying today that because of this unknown, unquantifiable element, and because of the non-partisan approach by labour, this should be recognised as a political package, not a stimulus package.

but they were opposition senators…of course

Topic: Kevin Rudd's Handout

In fact, Ken Henry, head of Treasury said last night, in the investigative hearings that it would be impossible to quantify the impact of the stimulus package. The sound-grabs on the news has him explaining how it is impossible to require people to spend their $950.

We’ve let go of $10.8bn in a stimulus package that the Govt is unable to measure the imapct on the economy except state t would’ve been worse if we didn’t hand out the cash…

Last night senior economists told the enquiry there are no long term benefits in the stimulus package to the economy.

Topic: Kevin Rudd's Handout

How about being able to use some of your super to pay off your mortgage?

How about pensionser not having to pay any tax on their lifes savings now that % rates are no longer providing them an income worth bothering about.

Nah, thats too simple to free up cash and stimulate new building growth and putting food on tables.

Hear hear!!!

Topic: Kevin Rudd's Handout

In fact, Ken Henry, head of Treasury said last night, in the investigative hearings that it would be impossible to quantify the impact of the stimulus package. The sound-grabs on the news has him explaining how it is impossible to require people to spend their $950.

Topic: Kevin Rudd's Handout

Will the latest stimulus payment to us taxpayers actually create jobs and stimulate the economy?

I don’t think so…Rudd’s $10.8bn handout in December only increased spending by 4% or $800m when compared to November. Where did the other $10bn go and how many jobs did it create?

I’m sure I heard Rudd and Swann spin some crud about how it will create jobs. Not sure if either of them have a clue and are crapping their pants.

I’m all for infrastructure projects or initiatives that will create jobs and I’d rather on-going tax cuts then a one-off payment.

Topic: Kevin Rudd's Handout

How about being able to use some of your super to pay off your mortgage?

How about pensionser not having to pay any tax on their lifes savings now that % rates are no longer providing them an income worth bothering about.

Nah, thats too simple to free up cash and stimulate new building growth and putting food on tables.

Topic: Kevin Rudd's Handout

Another key factor to consider is whether the contractor is being paid for the time they work, or being paid for a result. Contractors being paid by the hour are more likely to be employees. Contractors being paid for a result are more likely to be independent contractors. The main factors to consider in determining whether a contractor is an employee or an independent contractor are outlined below and summarised in the table below.”

A similar thing happens in the building industry. It usually concerns superannuation and workers compensation premiums, as well as Payroll tax.
The contractor, or even subcontractor, employs men as subcontractors. He then refuses to pay Super’ or workers comp. His view is the men are subbies.
This is robbing a huge percentage of building workers of 9% of their entitlements, and workers comp’ if they get injured.
Even worse the ATO who runs the 9% superannuation guarantee seems reluctant to police its own laws.

Topic: Kevin Rudd's Handout

A funny meeting I went to the other day- Payroll Tax-
QLD gov are changing Payroll Tax to squeeze some extra bucks.
Now Subcontractors pay roll tax includes and subsequent subcontractor that they engauge into work. 4% of gross! That will get the economy going!

Thats like Coles paying payroll tax for every delivery driver, farmer, meat packer etc… which of course they don’t.

HTB

I have to disagree with you and give support to my argument.

Re Payroll Tax:
My understanding is that payroll tax is paid on salaries and wages paid to employees. This also applies to payments to contractors who fit the criteria of employee under common law. See the following extract from the “OSR website” which assists employers to correctly determine whether a person working for them is an “employee” of a “contractor”.

”There are a number of factors to consider in determining whether a contractor is an employee or an independent contractor, with no one factor necessarily conclusive. An employer must examine all the facts in each case, including the terms of the contract with the contractor showing the intent of both parties.

A key factor in deciding if a contractor is an employee is the degree of control that can be exercised over the contractor by the taxpayer. If the taxpayer has the right to direct how, when, where and who is to perform the work, the contractor is likely to be an employee. These directions may be verbal or in writing, or simply understood between the parties.

Another key factor to consider is whether the contractor is being paid for the time they work, or being paid for a result. Contractors being paid by the hour are more likely to be employees. Contractors being paid for a result are more likely to be independent contractors. The main factors to consider in determining whether a contractor is an employee or an independent contractor are outlined below and summarised in the table below.”

I don’t believe there is a new requirement to pay tax on contractors, I think that Qld is catching up with back taxes owed by employers who have made errors in the past relating to whether the person working for them is a contractor or in fact an employee.

In fairness to Qld, they are offering an amnesty so that those employers who have gotten it wrong in the past can bring their payroll tax affairs up to date.

It looks to me like Qld is merely collecting its dues. To use our friends example of Coles- if the delivery drivers, farmers, meat packers etc meet the criteria of employees under the law they will be subject to the same payroll taxes as any other employee!!!!!!

Topic: Kevin Rudd's Handout

This year, taxpayers will receive an Economic Stimulus Payment. This isa very exciting new program that I will explain using the
Q and A format:

Q. What is an Economic Stimulus Payment?
A. It is money that the federal government will send to taxpayers.

Q. Where will the government get this money?
A. From taxpayers.

Q. So the government is giving me back my own money?
A. Only a smidgen.

Q. What is the purpose of this payment?
A. The plan is that you will use the money to purchase aHigh definition TV set or a new computer, thus stimulating theeconomy.

Q. But isn’t that stimulating the economy of China ?
A. Shut up.

Topic: Kevin Rudd's Handout

Lower taxes!

Topic: Kevin Rudd's Handout

Would you rather have a handout or lower taxes?

At the moment a handout looks good.
I have worked for 43 years. Retired due to arthritis 2 months ago. Lower taxes won’t help me. On reflextion they will help my kids. Vote for giving the the Vic bushfires the $950. If not, lower taxes help more that deserve help.

Topic: Kevin Rudd's Handout

Lower taxes definitely, so the pain won’t be as great when they put them back up again.

Topic: Kevin Rudd's Handout

lower taxes – vote 1.

Topic: Kevin Rudd's Handout

Ok, just curious you Aussies:

Would you rather have a handout or lower taxes?

Topic: Kevin Rudd's Handout

I’m not waiting for the krudd handout. By the time we get it, Victoria will look like a spring garden and NQld will be in drought.
Hate weather extremes, hate governments, love our volunteers, cry for the victims.

Topic: Kevin Rudd's Handout

Any of the $950s heading my way are going to the fire victims.

Such a feeling of impotence, seeing the total devastation and not being able to assist manually is so frustrating.

Floods to the north and fires to the south at the same time…. It’s a stupid, unpredictable bloody country, but that’s why we love it.

Topic: Kevin Rudd's Handout

I think the majority thinks the same way! Also thinking cRudd is buying and he’ll remind us all of this when election time arrives!

DIV>

I have voted Labour all my life until the last state election, Rudd can remind me all he wants but my vote will no longer go to his party in an election at any level.

Even better. Save it for the Victorian fire victims. They are going to need it more than me!!!

I’ll never say I couldn’t use the money but I agree wholeheartedly that the money should be going to the victims of both disasters happening at the moment.

Topic: Kevin Rudd's Handout

I think deep down we knew that was going to happen, HTB!!

Topic: Kevin Rudd's Handout

Your on a roll Wodda!

One thing I meant to mention before about the “a computer for every student” policy. I loved the implementation of this what great forsight and research they undertook.

The first school in Cairns to benefit from this scheme was Trinity Anglican private school. Annual fees around 14k and where each student is required to have his/her own Laptop!

Topic: Kevin Rudd's Handout

And while we’re cutting things…..take back the latest pay rise Krudd gave his lackies after asking employees not to request any payrises in the near future….

And bring back capital punishment so we have less mouths to feed in the prisons…how much would that save???

I should never have started reading this thread, I knew it was a bad idea!!!

Topic: Kevin Rudd's Handout

I agree with MrNoisy, cut GST and help everyone….

Or remove one of the taxes from fuel and ease the burden on business’ relying on transport industry for their income…

Or cut taxes on Small Business’ who don’t turn over enough to employ a dozen accountants to ensure a reduced tax bill….

Topic: Kevin Rudd's Handout

No doubt there is plenty of government inefficiency and waste and bad policy. But please don’t whinge about paying taxes.

Our taxes go to build roads, schools, hospitals and other public infrastructure and then pay all the nurses, teachers, fire fighters, ambos and defence force staff that we all rely on. If you lose your job or business in the next 12 months, you will no doubt wish that Centrelink payments were more generous.

Government spending and saving is a powerful economic tool that can be used to balance out the booms and busts that the financial markets go through every so often. Rudd’s aim to ease the severity of the coming recession is a good one, whether it’s the best approach in detail is arguable. And whether it will actually work is more arguable.

The Americans on the other hand have been living in fantasy land since Reagan, cutting taxes and spending big, to the point that half trillion dollar deficits are routine.

Reverse every natural instinct you have and do just the opposite of what you are inclined to do and you will probably come very close to having a perfect golf swing. – BEN HOGAN, POWER GOLF

Hey Muntz….I don’t have a problem with paying taxes and God knows I’ve paid plenty. I have a problem with those taxes going to slackers who have never worked a day in their lives. And then if I do happen to go broke and need government assistance, I have to jump through ridiculous hoops to receive it. Pi55e5 me off.

And then what does the govt do….they pay the slack scumbags to stay home and make more slack scumbags to drain the blood out of honest working Australians!! I don’t mind having baby bonus’ and newstart allowance….but I don’t believe you should be allowed to receive anymore money from the govt than you have already paid in taxes!!! No job, No tax Paid, No Handouts!!! Simple as that!!

But I digress…..

Topic: Kevin Rudd's Handout

This rescue package is a funny thing. The purpose of it ? Stimulate the economy and save jobs.
Well the handouts may or may not simulate the economy but most likely not. Paying off Credit card debt or stashing it for emergency morgage repayments in the light of loosing your job in the near future does not stimulate the economy.
Save jobs? maybe out of the 500k predicted job losses it will save some estimates range wildly but around 100k seems feasable- but not long term. It does not create 1 single new job. Yet the the Fed Gov is giving a trainee/student 950 bucks to learn how to work in a job that does not exist now and much less likely to in 6 months.

Apart from the handouts to package seems ok..a few qubblies here and there but ok. The thing that gets me is Fed Gov handouts and the state gov takes it back plus a few bucks.

The miss-management of GST revenue by almost all state gov’s in the last 5-10 years is pretty legendary.

A funny meeting I went to the other day- Payroll Tax-
QLD gov are changing Payroll Tax to squeeze some extra bucks.
Now Subcontractors pay roll tax includes and subsequent subcontractor that they engauge into work. 4% of gross! That will get the economy going!

Thats like Coles paying payroll tax for every delivery driver, farmer, meat packer etc… which of course they don’t.

Interesting times indeed