It has been suggested that the billions of dollars stripped from the Australian economy by personal remittances by immigrants should be taxed, at the rate of 30%.

Wealth earned in Australia should be spent in Australia.

The Word Bank estimate puts the figure leaving Australia annually at $24-$25 billion. Other estimates are as high as $38 billion, earned “through employment in Australia”, supported by Australian infrastructure and public services, lost by Australia.

The claim that high immigration will strengthen the Australian economy is undermined by the “billions of dollars” being sent out by immigrants to the folks back home.

The 30% levy would produce substantial revenue, and provide strong incentive for more Australian-earned money to remain in Australia, spent and invested in Australia.

The costs of billions of dollars being denied to Australia and going overseas still remain in Australia, via housing, infrastructure and public services.

(Source: Revive Australia)

ttbn
A No-brainer ! I not long ago mentioned an Asian woman pushing so many $50 notes into the ATM it made several of us dizzy just watching ! Another one actually told me she sends an average of 10 grand/month !

I accept the arguments but I can't agree with a tax.
I don't like the idea of anyone telling people how to spend their money.

What about foreign goods, isn't that the same thing?
Should the government make everyone pay a flat 30% on foreign goods?
30% tax every dollar sent overseas?

Another thread started by the envious migrant hater.

Of course its a no brainier to the brainless Indy. Income earned in Australia should be subjected to the normal taxation requirements, which for most people, including migrant workers it is. What is not taxed, is the profits of Big Business which transfer billions of dollars to overseas entities through shelf companies, and foreign banks, whilst receiving very favourable financial benefits in Australia. To give you an example, Singtel (a Singaporean company) the owner of Optus, earned $8.2 billion in Australian income in 2024/25 but paid ZERO TAX. Then there are the billions of dollars paid to foreign investors by Australia businesses, tax free, and the billions invested by Australians in foreign businesses tax free.

Maybe, what we should tax at 30% is unearned income like the Aged Pension.

Recently, my wife sent $200 to our niece in NZ as a gift, should she pay $60 tax on the money. Then there are the Australian holidaymakers who spend money overseas, should that be also taxed?

Indyvidual,

Yes. I immigrants from Third World countries are providing their relatives in those countries with a living - at Australia's expense. When a taxi driver in Australia can earn twice the pay of a doctor in India, it's a great idea, just not what mass immigration is claimed to be doing for Australia. The billions sent out of the country by individuals would be better spent here, as it was supposed to be.

The ideology crap against preventing the billions leaving Australia is just that: ideology; and very dumb economics.

Dumb economics is what the Albanese government is all about. The Coalition has about nothing to say on this matter; nor does One Nation. Only non-party groups seem to be interested. The MSM is certainly not bringing it to voters’ attention.

Australia is rooted because of the ignorance and apathy of Australians themselves. We can't complain if we keep voting for them.

Even if we tried to do it, it'd be effectively impossible since there are so many ways to transfer funds around the world without governments even knowing. Ever heard of cryptocurrency?

In Russia, there is, or used to be, a system that all visitors had to account for all their spending during their stay. Come in with $2000 and leave with $1000. Prove where you spent the other grand ie keep all receipts. Do we want to be like Soviet Russia? They didn't tax it but the official exchange rates were so fudged that it effectively was a tax.