In today's Daily Telegraph (9-8-17), David Leyonhjelm argued for a drop in the electricity price by the Federal Government removing the GST.

He pointed out that that other essential service, water, does not attract GST and neither should electricity as it is an equally essential service.

Thoughts?

Water is being sold as a commodity, not as an essential service and for community benefit as it was before. Extra taxes are being tacked onto water charges. That always gives room to crank up charges.

However, there is demand for extra services too. So, what is local and State government to do?

The GST will be applied to water.

For decades, State and local governments, Labor too, have criticised federal governments for continually ramping up the record immigration numbers that:

- put so much pressure on infrastructure (and coincidentally are also causing rushed development, poor planning and high property prices); and,

- require a higher tax load for the necessary big spending for a 'Big Australia'.

The feds are determined to protect the sacred cows of a 'Big Australia' and high immigration. Fortunately however, after Howard there are more skilled migrants being brought in, although it is sometimes questionable whether the $$ should be put instead into developing our own students and workers. Chicken and egg.

One could live without electricity, but no one can live for more than a few days without water.

Queensland Urban Utilities justified higher prices for water by arguing against 'wanton' misuse, such as 'long' showers, washing cars and watering gardens.

The public diligently wound back on the use of water and put money into water tanks & pumps, dual flush toilets , low water use clothes washing machines (that default to heating, more energy, to achieve clean clothes through water efficiency) and by letting the garden die off. Water is 'critical', said Urban Utilities, who were monitoring water use and threatening to cut off supply of 'non-compliant' users. Many got threatening letters.

Then there was the complaint that the income generated from water had 'not increased as expected' ie reduced (along with lower water use). So water charges would have to be increased to make up for the 'shortfall'.

From government too, 'We are no so sure about those water tanks anymore'.

And from business and local government, demands that householders make cities beautiful with better gardens. But once the tradition of gardening has been trashed, it will not reestablish so easily if at all. Garden supplies business have closed. Few people are willing to do the 'nice garden' thing anymore and have lost all inclination. A pity, because pottering about in the garden improved health.

Labor and Greens are waiting to introduce a host of new taxes, such as to reintroduce Death Tax and to slam homeowners with a capital gains tax on the family/residential home. That after encouraging banks to make bigger profits from home loans under the guise of reducing investor 'advantage'.

Will government drop the GST on electricity? Answer, career politicians are likely to do anything but reduce taxes overall. Expect more. Especially if 'Shifty' Shorten gets into the big seat in Canberra.

Yes, GST could be removed from electricity, but isn't that just helping the foreign power companies to continue their gouging? It's not the GST that is the problem, it is the greed of power companies and the refusal of the 'regulator' to stop them charging too much. All this bulldust about 'discounts' and 'plans' has to stop. Prices are simply too high because of greed and stupid RET nonsense.

Coal mines gave Australia the cheapest electricity in the world. Gw charlatans and so called renewables are to thank for much higher prices.