PH, I agree with most of what you say.

OUG, this transaction tax has to be worth a go, or at least have it fully costed by someone credible.

I remeber pauleen hansen suggested that a 2% CT would allow us the abolish every other tax we have and collect more than we currently do.

Rudy, I read it somewhere about 12 months ago. I doubt much has changed, however, I will have to get back to you.

579 You mentioned the mining tax cutting in at 50million$. So, what is company tax if it's not a tax on profits?

And, nobody is talking about 'forced retirerment'. It's just that if they get their way, retiring at 65, or 50 and collecting your super will no longer be an option.

Now, is this fair to suddenly shift the goal posts?

You knowm just maybe the tides are turning. Take China. Until the past ten or so years, most of them worked for next to nothing, in many cases, just for food, however, they wanted for nothing as well.

Nowdays they all want to be like us. They want the car, they want to be westernised.

Perhaps China will be the next Australia and Australia will take the place of past china.

In any case, we simply are burning tha candle at both ends and, if something drastic is not done, we will most certainly fail.

After all, we once rode on the sheeps back, that died. Then tourisum became huge, that's all but dead. Manufacturing was strong, that's now mostly found in history books now.

Mining is the next 'sheeps back', but, if and when that goes, what's left!

We will all be ruined said Hanrahan/rechtub.
Let them eat cake said others.
Yes some bludge on us all, not in retirement but life long.
Those who are paid to protect us from them do so too.
But we will muddle our way to a future we can not yet see.
I want to see our butchers sources too.
But am amused by the fact some who say our country is over flowing with Leach's need to look at what they takeout and what they put in.

Ok belly, so you suggest we will be fine.

So, where do you propose the jobs will come from?

30 odd years ago, when I entered the workforce, you could simply leave one job today, have a week or so off, if you pleased, then start a new job if and when you were ready. Those days are gone, don't you agree.

Today, inflation is at record lows, unemployment is supposedly very low, taxes are low, rents are cheaper than they were (in relative terms), yet, we all struggle to have one red cent left when the next pay arrives. How can this be?

The NBN will be the next challenge. Supposing the government gets it right and it doesn't blow out, is this not going to place a huge strain on our IT industry, one of the few we have left.

Our local footy club, which I sponsor, is having caps made and their chinese designer/manufacturer is requesting some changes to my logo.

So, not only are the being made there, but also designed there.

You can have graphic design work done overnight and at a fraction of the cost. NBN will most likely make this an even smoother transition.

I say again belly, if some serious changes are not done, where are the jobs of the future coming from?

I see two major reform requirements.

1. Stop the handouts.

2. Stop the waste.

BTW, did you here recently that the government is looking to wards cutting pensions in order to help balance the books. Remember, these folk have paid their taxes to help support us.

""" But am amused by the fact some who say our country is over flowing with Leach's need to look at what they takeout and what they put in."""

I personally have put a truckload in, built a company that employed 100 people and exported to over 6 countries, so brought money into the country. I've taken nothing out!

What has a labour union rep done? Apart from sponsor the bureaucrats that have made it not worth my while to continue, hence now my company has been moved to another country and is now an expense. You can sit there and blow wind up your own arse all day but at the end of it all, it's the ones that produce that give you the comfort you've become accustomed too and all you've done is turned them into a whole lot of John Galts!

Thats unfortunate that your company now resides over seas.
People are entitled to fair and proper wages.
I say there is more to it than blaming a union.
If you were any good you would have found a solution to your short commings, instead of going overseas for cheap labour.
These are the companies that need large excise imposed on them so more don't follow your solution.

Rehctub, you wrote about easily getting work when you were younger in the 80s compared to how hard it is for people now. I'm afraid you're looking at the past through totally rose coloured glasses.

Here are the facts.

1) 1983 unemployment rate 9.961%

2) 1993 unemployment rate 10.608%

3) current unemployment rate 5.1%

On a percentage basis, and a numerical basis, many more people are finding jobs right now, compared to those 'good old days'.

Have you got the answers ready yet for the three questions I asked you earlier? Thank you.