Where that our money goes...

Heard just now that the Federal Government collect $13B on Fuel Excise each
year, and of that they put back only $1.5B into the roads.
Where the **** is the other $11.5B going???
I also remember hearing that Speed Camera revenue is around $700M (?) a
year, with NONE of that going back into roads.
Why do we have to put up with crap roads, when there is an extra $12B
available that isn't being spent on them each year?
Imagine if even half of that was spent on the roads, what fantastic streets
we'd have. It may even reduce the road toll too.

 

They have to get the money for CentreLink payments from somewhere.

--
Ben Thomas - Software Engineer - Melbourne, Australia
2001 manual 2.2l Holden Astra SRi - a real pleasure to drive;
Michelin Preceda - $250 each but last a lot longer than $200 tyres;
Alpine Type S speakers and amp, JVC MP3 CD playing head-unit.

So much for the 4 line sig:
Opinions, conclusions, and other information in this message that do not
relate to the official business of my employer shall be understood as neither
given nor endorsed by it.

 

As one govt spokesman said, where would you like them to cut back on, the
schools, hospitals or police force?

Michael

 

I'll take secret option number 4 - politician first class air fares.

 

Taxing a select group of citizens to provide services to all seems unfair. It
would be more appropriate to fund general services with a general tax such as
the GST, IMHO. The government gets away with it because most people can't give
up their car to avoid the tax and they won't lose a significant number of votes
over the issue. Same with tax on smokes and booze. Tax on road users should only
be enough to cover maintenance and building of new roads and all other costs
associated with running a road system.

--
Ben Thomas - Software Engineer - Melbourne, Australia
2001 manual 2.2l Holden Astra SRi - a real pleasure to drive;
Michelin Preceda - $250 each but last a lot longer than $200 tyres;
Alpine Type S speakers and amp, JVC MP3 CD playing head-unit.

So much for the 4 line sig:
Opinions, conclusions, and other information in this message that do not
relate to the official business of my employer shall be understood as neither
given nor endorsed by it.

 

compared to the number of people paying fuel excise, I'm sure the school
children, the hospital patients and the members of the police force are
the 'select group' in this case.

Nev..

 

They have to get the money for CentreLink payments from somewhere.

Bloody true, I'm with you Ben. Do you know how much money they give
away to people for nothing... here are just a few examples..

* Payments to help you raise children:
Family Tax Benefit Part A - for parents or carers to help with
the cost of raising children.
Family Tax Benefit Part B - for single income families or sole
parents.
Parenting Payment - for parents or guardians to help with the
cost of raising children.
Child Care Benefit - for families to help with the cost of child
care.
Maternity Payment - for help with those extra costs after the
birth of a new baby.
Maternity Immunisation Allowance - for fully immunised children
or those exempt from immunisation.
Double Orphan Pension - for people who are raising children who
have lost both parents.
Carer Allowance (Child) - for people who care for a child with
a disability at home.


**** that. From now on when I'm filling up at the petrol station, I'll
wait for some prick with a child to come along and demand they
contribute their fair share to my fuel bill. I think everyone should do
the same, unless they are freeloading bludgers with children who are
sucking all the road funding out of my fuel excise and spending it on
McHappy Meals. I reckon the government should scrap all payments for
people with children. If people can't afford to have children give them
a one off centrelink payment to get neutered instead.

Nev..

*
http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/individuals/pg_payments.htm

 

Maybe true but it's not realistic in reality though. How are those on
welfare going to fund their own payments?

Michael

 

We should put their wages up, anyone with any ability at running something
knows that you get paid a lot more to run a business than a country.

Michael

 

Life's like that...

"Yeah, it should. But we don't live in Shouldland. Ahhh, Shouldland. Where
cleancut kids cruise Shouldland Boulevarde. And the Shouldland High football
team get their optomistic arses kicked by their cross-town rivals, Reality
Check Tech."

Toosmoky
Work to ride, Ride to Work...
http://toosmoky.d2.net.au

 

Not that I disagree, but if they do this, in 30 years time when everyone is
retiring, and there are no younger people in the workforce to pay taxes and
pay for old age pensions, there will be heaps of people blaming the govt.
for not doing something about the problem sooner!!


perhaps they should drop the excise from petrol (which people need to buy)
and add it on to cigarettes.

 

We should go back one step. and ask why fuel excise which was supposed to be
for roads, is being used for schools, hospitals, police force, etc?

 

That would be one of the general things that gets funding from the GST.

Out of curiosity, do you think it's fair that those who earn more should pay a
higher percentage of income tax?

--
Ben Thomas - Software Engineer - Melbourne, Australia
2001 manual 2.2l Holden Astra SRi - a real pleasure to drive;
Michelin Preceda - $250 each but last a lot longer than $200 tyres;
Alpine Type S speakers and amp, JVC MP3 CD playing head-unit.

So much for the 4 line sig:
Opinions, conclusions, and other information in this message that do not
relate to the official business of my employer shall be understood as neither
given nor endorsed by it.

 

Business people usually get paid according to their performance.
Pollies get paid the same even when they make **** up after **** up
after **** up. Business people are accountable for their actions. Our
politicians contribute to the death and misery of thousands of people in
our country and also on the other side of the world with impunity.

Nev..

 

Possibly but we'd end up paying it one way or the other anyway.

Yes.

Michael

 

I agree, they should be more accountable for their performance, but it would
be very difficult to measure. With a business it's very easy, profit by %x =
bonus for execs. How would you do it for pollies?

Michael

 

How about a child tax, each child attracts a higher percentage of income
tax. ;-) Once you get to 5 children your tax is so high you can't afford to
run them no matter what your income.

Seriously, I don't think we're going to have a problem with not enough
population.

Michael

 

Seems strange to me. We reward people for working hard by taking more money away
from them.

--
Ben Thomas - Software Engineer - Melbourne, Australia
2001 manual 2.2l Holden Astra SRi - a real pleasure to drive;
Michelin Preceda - $250 each but last a lot longer than $200 tyres;
Alpine Type S speakers and amp, JVC MP3 CD playing head-unit.

So much for the 4 line sig:
Opinions, conclusions, and other information in this message that do not
relate to the official business of my employer shall be understood as neither
given nor endorsed by it.

 

You can't really judge how hard someone works by the amount they earn
though.

One of my mates works his arse off helping to landscape and build
pools, and although physical labour is different to what I do (mental
labour), the difference in what we earn is by no means an indication
that I work so much harder than he does.

 

Perhaps you should step back and view the taxation system as a whole. Income
tax is progressive - the more you earn, the greater proportion of your
income you pay in income tax.

However, GST is a regressive tax. The less you earn, the greater proportion
of your income you pay in GST.



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