[Annbatters]

Your Say Sunday Poll: Taxing the Rich​

Happy Sunday, members!

Welcome to another Your Say Sunday poll where we pass the microphone over to you, our lovely members, to vote on this week's topic!

So what is today's question? I'm glad you asked. Given the news of the RBA rate hike and the pension indexation, we want to know...

Should Australia increase taxes on the wealthy to address income inequality?

We can't wait to hear your thoughts! Vote and comment below to have your say.

We’ve already paid our taxes on building our retirement, how dare govt tax us again, buzz off

 

[christine_morrissy@yahoo.]

Yes - people with $3,000,000 plus in superannuation, should receive a slimmed down tax deduction

 

[Mr Chips]

20% of people own 80% of the country's wealth. The greatest part of income tax is from PAYE's who do not have the ability to avoid paying tax. Tax avoidance should be available to all, or none. I have family member with a successful business who never pays tax nor hex fees and has a big 4 berth boat and other luxuries. How can this be fair or right when people on low wages have to pay tax. Family trusts and other tax avoidance schemes should be banned. Problem is a lot of politicians are in it up to their necks.

Jealousy is a curse?

 

[Flyingfox]

Omg so very well said. You said exactly how it is. The more you earn the more tax you pay anyway but why have higher tiers for the more someone earns .

I agree to much green envy in Australia

So well said. Lets not forget there are many rich people who do so much good but very quietly.If they are taxed more will they stop giving? The criminal element of being rich must somehow be stopped, But to punish those who worked hard for what they have seems very unfare.

 

[Catherines]

I am not one of the rich but I thought we all had the same chance when popped into this world. Some do Some do not. Just because one does and becomes wealthy it is not their job to pay for those who are maybe not so wise. I am truly tired of those who expect the government or wealthy people to fork out help. Just one wee thing. I do not play the pokies but anytime I am at a venue I am amazed at the oldies poking their money through. Guess what it is or probably is their pension money which is from where? the government. I guess i could add Bingo to this. Just saying. The rich have it easy, what a silly comment. They did not get rich by twiddling their thumbs, they worked their butts off. What kind of silly remarks can be made about Gina Rinehardt? The most generous lady in Australia. I do not care if she pays tax or not.

Absolutely true. Work for your money - little or heaps, but work for it, if you are healthy or educated well enough to do so. We do not know everyone’s situation so should not generalise. Some have worked very, very hard, been away from family while working and if they’ve done well financially then applaud them, not criticise. Do we all work as hard and give up a lot of time with our families while doing so? Work hard, save what you can but do not assume and criticise what you don’t know the facts on.

Pokies? Spending on this (especially if done with pension money provided by working members’ taxes) should be controlled in some way but I do not have any suggestion as to how. I do not play the pokies ever. I have more sense than to become addicted to it.

 

[Catherines]

So well said. Lets not forget there are many rich people who do so much good but very quietly.If they are taxed more will they stop giving? The criminal element of being rich must somehow be stopped, But to punish those who worked hard for what they have seems very unfare.

Yes this is a well said comment.

 

[ShannyN]

I am not one of the rich but I thought we all had the same chance when popped into this world. Some do Some do not. Just because one does and becomes wealthy it is not their job to pay for those who are maybe not so wise. I am truly tired of those who expect the government or wealthy people to fork out help. Just one wee thing. I do not play the pokies but anytime I am at a venue I am amazed at the oldies poking their money through. Guess what it is or probably is their pension money which is from where? the government. I guess i could add Bingo to this. Just saying. The rich have it easy, what a silly comment. They did not get rich by twiddling their thumbs, they worked their butts off. What kind of silly remarks can be made about Gina Rinehardt? The most generous lady in Australia. I do not care if she pays tax or not.

Re; Pensioners and pokies
Hi Jest,
30 ish Years ago when I lived and worked on the Gold Coast and a few workers would go for drinks at Jupiter's (Casino) while I drank coke and watched them lose their money at pokies, I too saw so many old age pensioner women putting huge amts ( to me) in and then borrowing another 100 off their mate to continue playing.

This went on until a few hrs later the lady borrowed another 100. during a lull I went and asked her how she could put so much in and lose and not be bankrupt.

She was happy to answer saying, well I own my own house clear and free, have new car etc no kids all gone grown up husband worked hard to get all this then died so all I have to get is annual rates which is a couple of grand and food and electricity so I can waste lots and still cope.

Seems the hubbies works their arse off to get all they need for retirement then when that approaches or starts hubby carks it due to overworking body to accumulate it all while spouse pis^es it away afterwards.

 

[Lesgelson]

Your Say Sunday Poll: Taxing the Rich​

Happy Sunday, members!

Welcome to another Your Say Sunday poll where we pass the microphone over to you, our lovely members, to vote on this week's topic!

So what is today's question? I'm glad you asked. Given the news of the RBA rate hike and the pension indexation, we want to know...

Should Australia increase taxes on the wealthy to address income inequality?

We can't wait to hear your thoughts! Vote and comment below to have your say.

Many Australians work hard have university fees to pay and are on employers books. They pay huge taxes and so many cannot get help with childcare fees or indeed anything! Continue penalising them then the country may have a brain drain! Not all people with a good income have trusts so pay their share of taxes !!!

 

[Catherines]

Re; Pensioners and pokies
Hi Jest,
30 ish Years ago when I lived and worked on the Gold Coast and a few workers would go for drinks at Jupiter's (Casino) while I drank coke and watched them lose their money at pokies, I too saw so many old age pensioner women putting huge amts ( to me) in and then borrowing another 100 off their mate to continue playing.

This went on until a few hrs later the lady borrowed another 100. during a lull I went and asked her how she could put so much in and lose and not be bankrupt.

She was happy to answer saying, well I own my own house clear and free, have new car etc no kids all gone grown up husband worked hard to get all this then died so all I have to get is annual rates which is a couple of grand and food and electricity so I can waste lots and still cope.

Seems the hubbies works their arse off to get all they need for retirement then when that approaches or starts hubby carks it due to overworking body to accumulate it all while spouse pis^es it away afterwards.

This lady you spoke to, and her irresponsible reply, are a sign of not caring for anyone or anything but herself. I wonder how her family, if she has children or grandchildren even if they are ‘all gone’ as she says, will see her upon her passing - a selfish woman, no doubt.

How fortunate her late husband who ‘worked hard’ (in her words) would have been if she had died before him and not the other way round. He worked hard to save no doubt keeping his wife’s safety and inheritance for her foremost in his mind. I hope she does not fall on hard times or end up with a debilitating and costly illness in her remaining days and starts to see past the days ahead when she could lose everything monetary she has. Maybe she is a very lonely woman with few friends and no other social life in which case I feel for her but the monetary part of a person’s wealth can also go to the many research and charitable organisations crying out for money if you do not want to leave anything to any family.

We own our house, every single thing in it, our car and also have shares we bought for our future. It is of concern to me that, when we both die, we will at least be able to leave some monetary inheritance to our children and grandchildren. We also have a reasonable superannuation for them to share on our passing. Both of us are over 75 so our remaining years should be in reasonable comfort, with careful saving, not spending and perhaps living off the government. And we hope there will be something left for our children and grandchildren. I understand not everyone in this life can be fortunate but wasting just because it is yours, I believe, is not the way to see life. We will all go to one place or another where how rich or poor we were on earth will not make any difference and won’t count, but what will is determined by our ways, our attitude to others on earth.

Until absolutely necessary we have also chosen not to go down the path of down-sizing to a retirement village. The reason being you pay to ‘buy’ into them, you pay fees all along for services provided (similar to ‘body corp’ fees in units) and then when you die they take a further huge percentage slice of your original purchase price and also get a good slice of the eventual sale price when your place is sold. How can this be fair? After 7 years in many places that percentage equates to 1/3 of your purchase price, the maximum set by government. Why, why, why???

 

[Vio Kot]

Definitely not increase taxes to the wealthy! Why on earth would we even consider it? On reading the comments of the "yes" people here, I have come to the conclusion that they are all tax evadance experts. They make comments regarding the wealthy avoiding tax by illegal methods. Sure, there may be one or two that do but a majority would be paying their tax without much issue. Yes, they get tax breaks when they support charities and welfare institutions. Do we want to reduce their support in these areas? Of course not. It is mainly the lower-paid who try to evade taxes by making false claims in their returns. They are trying to improve their lot in any way they can, especially if they smoke or consume drugs. We should actually be reducing taxes for the wealthy. When I say wealthy I mean the young entrepreneurs who are challenging themselves to be successful. Not the "old money" families who are kind and generous anyhow. We need them. We are a country that relies on the entrepreneurial activities of individuals to guide our economy. I don't support some of the things that our Government does with the money but they would not be able to consider these things without our entrepreneurial individuals. Why would young people want to strive for excellenc if we punished them before they even start. Those of you who are dog owners know that you get much better results by a small treat or reward. Don't treat our up and coming business owners like dogs, give them the absolute maximum benefits available and just watch the country succeed like never before.

 

[Geoff8]

Ok, when I worked I was paying “supposedly “ 30% in taxes, however when I actually worked it out I was only paying 22%. I’m retired now got and spent my Super, now on the pension.
I believe that if the govt wants everyone to pay taxes then make every single worker pay the same tax eg, 35- 50k pay 25% 51- 100k 27.5% 101- 150k pay 30%. 151k and above should pay 35%. I think that could and would be a fairer system.
Just my thoughts

 

[Esma Rose]

I definitely go along the line of Philpy. Totally agree.









i definitely go along the line taken up by Philpy.

 

[Leoni]

Exactly. More tax on funds that have already been taxed. Can you not see that? They have worked hard to have that much in Super. It is not for you or anyone else to determine what is or is not enough to retire on. It is none of anyone else's business.

If I had $3 million dollars in super, I would be very happy to pay the extra tax. Many people out there, a majority of them women, have not had a wage that allows them to build up a multi million dollar amount in their super fund. I would be happy to be able to ensure that ALL retirees can afford to live in their retirement without struggling. For many this is NOT as a result of anything they have done, and they don't deserve to be punished for not being wealthy. In fact, a lot of the wealth the wealthy have, is there because of employees, many on low wages, working to make the product that makes the shareholders, or the owner of the company, the riches they have.

 

[I'm Mal]

If I had $3 million dollars in super, I would be very happy to pay the extra tax. Many people out there, a majority of them women, have not had a wage that allows them to build up a multi million dollar amount in their super fund. I would be happy to be able to ensure that ALL retirees can afford to live in their retirement without struggling. For many this is NOT as a result of anything they have done, and they don't deserve to be punished for not being wealthy. In fact, a lot of the wealth the wealthy have, is there because of employees, many on low wages, working to make the product that makes the shareholders, or the owner of the company, the riches they have.

You know naught of what you speak.

 

[Roscoe44]

I think you will find he said "minimise" tax not "avoid" - Of course I am minimising my tax. And if anybody in this country doesn't minimise their tax, they want their heads read, because as a government, I can tell you you're not spending it that well that we should be donating extra!"

Thankyou I stand corrected on my memory of what was publicly said.