The first years of the millennium were kind to government finances. A benign economic environment, and a once-in-a-century commodity boom fuelled by Chinese growth, helped the Federal budget to a cumulative…
Was Scott Morrison right about the powers of ASIC?
AAP/Richard Wainwright
After Labor proposed a royal commission into the banking industry, Treasurer Scott Morrison said the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has all the powers of a royal commission and more. Is that right?
Malcolm Turnbull invited premiers and chief ministers to The Lodge on Thursday evening ahead of COAG.
PMO
Malcolm Turnbull is the venture capitalist of politics who, with his bid to force the states to raise a slice of income tax, has invested heavily in a risky enterprise.
Malcolm Turnbull announced his new income tax plan while visiting the Penrith Panthers Rugby League Academy on Wednesday.
Paul Millar/AAP Image
By proposing a dramatic shake-up of income taxing powers Turnbull has thrown himself into a contest that will test his policy and persuasive skills to the hilt.
While Bill Shorten insists Labor has zero tolerance for instances of union thuggery and corruption, he tends to minimise the issue.
Dan Peled/AAP
Malcolm Turnbull’s move to have the governor-general recall parliament, using an often-forgotten constitutional power, caught many political players off guard.
During his regular Monday morning date with Ray Hadley, Scott Morrison insisted the budget was on May 10.
Carol Cho/AAP
Malcolm Turnbull admits he did not make a call on Sunday night to tell Scott Morrison he was bringing the budget forward, but that draws attention to the obvious point – Morrison had abundant warning…
Before entering politics, Scott Morrison was employed to develop policy for the Property Council of Australia, which is now leading the charge against negative-gearing reform.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
The default position for politicians is to sound concerned about housing affordability, but do nothing. This can be explained by the idea of ‘policy capture’, in this case by industry interests.
Scott Morrison said the same-sex marriage plebiscite vote would be compulsory.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
Treasurer Scott Morrison has flagged the prospect of ministers campaigning on both sides in the same-sex marriage plebiscite – as happened in the republic referendum.
It has been a week of political contests, both within party lines and across them. Stephen Parker and Michelle Grattan take a look at the bitter rivalry between Malcolm Turnbull and Tony Abbott.
Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison often seem in different places, and not just on tax options.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
Politics has its own purgatory, as Malcolm Turnbull and Tony Abbott might have reflected when they sat on the same table at the Howard government’s 20th anniversary dinner on Wednesday.
Treasurer Scott Morrison with Tony Abbott in September 2015.
Sam Mooy/AAP
Treasurer Scott Morrison, already under fire for not having tax policy out, has got into a stoush with former prime minister Tony Abbott over how much work was done before the leadership change.
Treasurer Scott Morrison was criticised for not announcing any new policy in his National Press Club address.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
Treasurer Scott Morrison has “rescaled” the tax debate to hold out the prospect of “modest” tax relief that may prevent average wage earners moving into the second highest tax bracket.
The Labor has tackled negative gearing reform first.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
Even 12 months ago, challenging negative gearing seemed off limits. Now, there are real plans for reform.
We might be ambivalent about taxation because it challenges our sense of ourselves as individuals – and we may not trust governments to spend it properly.
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Many of us are happy for governments to increase spending on public services, but we don’t like the idea of higher taxes. There are some good reasons for this.
Was federal treasurer Scott Morrison right about falling government expenditure?
AAP Image/Mick Tsikas
Federal treasurer Scott Morrison said that expenditure as a share of the economy under this government is falling, not increasing. Is that right?
Treasurer Scott Morrison had a bad first week of the new parliamentary year, as the idea of a possible GST increase came in for a barrage of negativity.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
Scott Morrison has become a true believer in the cause of raising the GST, determined to drive a major switch in the tax mix. The big question is whether Malcolm Turnbull will end up in the same place…
Treasurer Scott Morrison’s critique of the green/white paper process is flawed and appears self-serving.
Aaron Bunch/AAP
Last year Joe Hockey was quite clear: he issued a discussion about the Australian tax system, and promised a green paper on options and a white paper on government policy.
Senior Lecturer in Political Science: Research Fellow at the Cairns Institute; Research Associate for Centre for Policy Futures, University of Queensland, James Cook University