[New post] NSW 2015 – Legislative Council update
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Category: General news
Managing director of Ebono Institute and major sponsor of The Generator, Geoff Ebbs, is running against Kevin Rudd in the seat of Griffith at the next Federal election. By the expression on their faces in this candid shot it looks like a pretty dull campaign. Read on
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NSW 2015 – Legislative Council update by Ben Raue
The conversation has been marked as important.1 of 27 -
You pay, are they? LABOR
enable desktop notifications for Gmail. Learn more Hide1 of 26You pay, are they?
Inboxx Sam Dastyari via sendgrid.info
10:52 AM (2 minutes ago)to me
Neville — One of the certainties in life is that you have to pay your taxes. We all pay our fair share.
So why should big multinational companies be any different?
Did you know that right now in Australia companies are shifting their profits overseas to avoid paying their fair share of tax?
It’s BIG MONEY too. In 2012-13 companies shifted more than $300 billion from Australia to overseas companies.
It’s even worse when you think about the fact that these taxes could have been spent on things like our schools and hospitals. Things that the Government are cutting back on right now.
Worse than that, the Liberal Government handed back $1 billion to multinationals in their last budget – while cutting pensions and asking students to pay more for a degree?!
We think there is a better way. Labor has released our plan to stop multinational tax avoidance by shutting down the loopholes that allow these companies to send their profits overseas.
But what do you think?
For me, paying tax is the price we pay for a fair society with healthcare, education and support for the disadvantaged. That’s why it’s so important that everyone contributes.
You can find out more about our policy on multinational company tax here.
Thank you for your support,
Senator Sam Dastyari
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French banks rule out Galilee coal — now let’s make CommBank
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Inboxx Josh Creaser – 350.org Australia josh.creaser@350.org.au via list.350.org
4:05 PM (12 minutes ago)to meDear Friend,
In breaking news, Indian mining giant Adani can say au revoir to funding for the Galilee Basin mega coal mines from France’s three largest banks*.
Overnight, BNP Paribas, Société Générale and Credit Agricole have publicly ruled out involvement in the Galilee coal mines and expansion of Abbot Point port on the Great Barrier Reef. This is a huge victory and adds to the commitments of eight other European and Wall Street banks that have rejected this climate and reef disaster.
While their global peers show leadership, Australia’s big banks continue to fence sit. However, one bank has already jumped the fence. As we speak, the Commonwealth Bank is advising Adani and considering financing the largest mine in the Galilee Basin.
As Adani becomes increasingly desperate for money, they’ll be pressuring CommBank to fund this climate disaster harder than ever — which means that, over the coming months, we must show CommBank that Australians everywhere reject massive new coal expansions in the Galilee Basin and ports on the Reef.
And that’s why we are going to Raise the Heat on CommBank! From 19-23 May, at CommBank branches around the country, Australians everywhere — customers and non-customers alike — will engage in creative and bold actions to put the Bank’s reputation on the line. We’ll even be joined by friends taking action at CommBank offices around the world.
Sign up to take part in Raise the Heat actions at a branch near you!
The announcement last night from the major French Banks shows, once again, that there is no future for the Galilee Basin coal mines. Yet CommBank continues to block its ears to the enormous environmental, social and economic risks that have driven the major coal-lending banks away. That’s why, branch by branch, it’s time to make our case louder and more powerful than ever. It’s time to put CommBank’s reputation on the line.
Yours for a safe climate and reef,
Josh and Janelle for the 350.org Australia Team
P.s Can’t see a CommBank branch near you? Keen to be involved? You can register a CommBank branch of your choice here and help coordinate actions during Raise the Heat. We’ll be here to support you each step of the way — get started by registering a branch today.
—-*Big French Banks Rule out Galilee Coal Funding, The Sydney Morning Herald, 8th April.
Click here to enable desktop notifications for Gmail. Learn more HideMore1 of 3French banks rule out Galilee coal — now let’s make CommBank
Inboxx Josh Creaser – 350.org Australia josh.creaser@350.org.au via list.350.org
4:05 PM (12 minutes ago)to meDear Friend,
In breaking news, Indian mining giant Adani can say au revoir to funding for the Galilee Basin mega coal mines from France’s three largest banks*.
Overnight, BNP Paribas, Société Générale and Credit Agricole have publicly ruled out involvement in the Galilee coal mines and expansion of Abbot Point port on the Great Barrier Reef. This is a huge victory and adds to the commitments of eight other European and Wall Street banks that have rejected this climate and reef disaster.
While their global peers show leadership, Australia’s big banks continue to fence sit. However, one bank has already jumped the fence. As we speak, the Commonwealth Bank is advising Adani and considering financing the largest mine in the Galilee Basin.
As Adani becomes increasingly desperate for money, they’ll be pressuring CommBank to fund this climate disaster harder than ever — which means that, over the coming months, we must show CommBank that Australians everywhere reject massive new coal expansions in the Galilee Basin and ports on the Reef.
And that’s why we are going to Raise the Heat on CommBank! From 19-23 May, at CommBank branches around the country, Australians everywhere — customers and non-customers alike — will engage in creative and bold actions to put the Bank’s reputation on the line. We’ll even be joined by friends taking action at CommBank offices around the world.
Sign up to take part in Raise the Heat actions at a branch near you!
The announcement last night from the major French Banks shows, once again, that there is no future for the Galilee Basin coal mines. Yet CommBank continues to block its ears to the enormous environmental, social and economic risks that have driven the major coal-lending banks away. That’s why, branch by branch, it’s time to make our case louder and more powerful than ever. It’s time to put CommBank’s reputation on the line.
Yours for a safe climate and reef,
Josh and Janelle for the 350.org Australia Team
P.s Can’t see a CommBank branch near you? Keen to be involved? You can register a CommBank branch of your choice here and help coordinate actions during Raise the Heat. We’ll be here to support you each step of the way — get started by registering a branch today.
—-*Big French Banks Rule out Galilee Coal Funding, The Sydney Morning Herald, 8th April.
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Let’s save Bulga from Rio Tinto Inbox x
Click here to enable desktop notifications for Gmail. Learn more HideMore1 of 26Let’s save Bulga from Rio Tinto
Inboxx John Krey, Bulga savebulga@fastmail.fm via sendgrid.info
12:17 PM (25 minutes ago)to me
Dear Neville — From the residents of Bulga in the Hunter Valley, thank you! By signing our Bulga Declaration you – and thousands of other people – have joined the struggle to save our town from Rio Tinto’s planned Warkworth coal mine expansion.
We’ve been trying to stop the mine for the past five years. We’ve beaten it in court – twice. But Rio won’t take no for an answer, and sadly, our state government is working hand-in-glove with the company to undo all our work, change the laws, and approve the mine.
On our own, we can’t save our town. Fortunately, we’re not alone. We’ve joined with Wonnarua traditional custodians and Hunter wine industry groups, and thousands of people like you are standing with us. Together, we can win. We’ve got big plans this year, and some events coming up soon that we hope you can be a part of.
Taking the Bulga Declaration to Sydney
On Monday 20th April, we’re taking the Bulga Declaration to Sydney. We’ll hold a rally outside the office of the new Planning Minister, Rob Stokes, and we’ll send a delegation in to deliver him our Declaration. Minister Stokes has the power to stop Rio’s new mining application being approved, and that’s what we’ll be asking him to do. We need a big show of support in Martin Place! Can you join us at 11am, Monday 20th April? Can you spread the word? Check out and share the Facebook event here.Training for Peaceful Direct Action
Peaceful direct action is a powerful tool used by communities around Australia desperate to protect their land, water, and people from coal mining. There will be a peaceful direct action training workshop in the Bulga Hall on 9th May to learn all about it, and our supporters in Sydney are running a similar one on 19th April. We encourage you to get along to one of these great events:- University of Technology, Sydney: Sunday 19th April, 9am. RSVP here, and share the Facebook event.
- Bulga Hall: Saturday 9th May, 10am. RSVP here.
We’ll have plenty more exciting events to invite you to in the weeks months ahead. 2015 is the critical year in the Battle for Bulga. We’re very glad you’ll be a part of it.
Thanks again,
John Krey, Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association. -
75 millionaires paying no tax Get-Up
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Inboxx Mark – GetUp!
10:48 AM (1 hour ago)to me
Dear NEVILLE,
At least 75 millionaires are paying less tax than you — in fact, they’re not paying any tax at all.
According to the Australian Tax Office, 75 Australians made more than $1 million in 2011-12 and paid zero tax — none.1 And they spent an average of $850,000 on aggressive tax avoidance, which they then got to claim as — you guessed it — a tax deduction!2
But thanks to the generous donations of GetUp members through our Brighter Budget campaign, our friends at The Australia Institute have developed a smart, sensible way to stop this rorting: “The Buffett Rule”.3
The Buffett Rule says: Right, enough of all of this loophole rubbish, the wealthiest 1% of income earners have to pay at least 35% in income tax — based around the rate paid by many Australian workers.4 This new tax Rule could raise nearly $2.5 billion per year – more than the Abbott Government’s cuts to Newstart benefits and the age pension combined.5
Both the Government and Labor Opposition are finally talking about revenue measures for the Budget, and are looking for what works and what’s popular. Together, we can deliver them the Buffett Rule on a silver platter by backing it and sharing it with our friends.
The Buffett Rule was inspired by multi-billionaire U.S. investor Warren Buffett. After Mr Buffett pointed out the gross unfairness of his secretary paying more tax than he did, President Obama proposed the Buffett Rule to ensure the wealthiest Americans paid at least the same tax rate as middle income earners.
The Buffett Rule became hugely popular, with the Wall Street Journal even reporting that 68% of millionaires supported a Buffett Rule in some form.6 So even those benefiting from these tax loopholes can’t help but support it!
GetUp’s member-funded Brighter Budget campaign aims to build a better future through smarter, fairer Budget policies. Through this first policy report, we’re bringing the Buffett Rule to Australia and applying it to high income tax dodging. This includes people who make millions and then reduce their taxable income down to an averge of $1.09 per year.7
GetUp members are funding research right now showing that this idea could be hugely popular in Australia too, especially in the key marginal electorates that will determine the outcome of the next election. But with the report launching today, now’s the time to get immediate public support behind it to grab the attention of our leaders. Click below to sign the petition:
https://www.getup.org.au/buffett-rule
Big corporations are rightly under the microscope for their tax avoidance measures right now – something GetUp members have been campaigning to achieve. But we can’t let millionaire tax dodgers get off scot-free either.
The principle is the same: everyone should pay their fair share to support the benefits we all get by living, working or running a business in Australia. Click here to join the fight.
Thanks for all you do,
Mark, Evan, Georgina and Nat for the GetUp teamPS – The graph below shows how the use of tax deductions skyrockets for the very highest income earners. One simple rule – The Buffett Rule – would change all that. Sign the petition today and share it with your friends.
Source: “Closing the tax loopholes: A Buffett rule for Australia”, The Australia Institute, 7 April 2008References:
1. “Closing the tax loopholes: A Buffett rule for Australia”, The Australia Institute, 7 April 2008
2. Same as above.
3. “‘Buffett Rule’ proposed to make sure high earners pay some tax”, The Sydney Morning Herald, 8 April 2008.
4. “Closing the tax loopholes: A Buffett rule for Australia”, The Australia Institute, 7 April 2008
5. “Changed indexation of pensions and tightened eligibility for all benefits”, Budget Review 2014-15, Parliament of Australia
“Federal budget 2014: Young to wait until 25 to get dole”, The Sydney Morning Herald, 14 May 2014
6. “Millionaires Support Warren Buffett’s Tax on the Rich”, The Wall Street Journal, 27 October 2011
7. “Closing the tax loopholes: A Buffett rule for Australia”, The Australia Institute, 7 April 2008 -
Protecting the RET LABOR
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Inboxx Bill Shorten & Mark Butler via sendgrid.info
6:39 PM (8 minutes ago)to meNeville –Labor is backing the Clean Energy Council to protect the future of Australia’s renewable energy industry. We know that you, and a staggering 98 per cent of all Australians support solar, wind, hydro and other renewable energy generation.
It’s an economically and environmentally sensible approach to reducing pollution and creating the next generation of jobs in Australia.
Labor has always been guided by the science when it comes to tackling climate change.
The Clean Energy Council is the peak body representing the clean energy industry.
Labor established Australia’s Renewable Energy Target to drive investment in clean energy alternatives.
And we know it works because Labor’s target saw Australia become one of the four most attractive nations in the world in which to invest in renewable energy.
Under Labor jobs in the renewable energy sector tripled, wind power tripled and households with solar grew from 7,000 in 2007 to 1.3 million in 2014.
After promising to keep Labor’s Renewable Energy Target, Tony Abbott launched a reckless attack on the industry that has devastated investment and threatened thousands of jobs.
As a result, investment in large-scale renewables in Australia fell last year by 88 per cent, while it increased globally by 16 per cent.
The renewable energy industry is on its knees.
Today Labor has once again joined with the renewable energy industry to protect our future.
Labor will support the Clean Energy Council’s position on the Renewable Energy Target of 33,500 GwH.
Labor will use this target as a floor and if elected, we will work with the sector to increase the Renewable Energy Target out to 2020 to bolster investment, specifically in large scale solar.
Over coming weeks we will be consulting with the experts and announcing our goals for this industry beyond 2020.
We know there will be a campaign of misinformation from some in the community about today’s decision, just as there was in 2009 when we came so close to delivering the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme but lost it all at the last hurdle because we allowed the perfect to be the enemy of the good. I hope you’ll correct that misinformation when you read it or hear it and make sure people know that our commitment to renewable energy is firm and unwavering and that this decision, while difficult, is about just that. Here’s a brief we thought you might find handy.
Renewable energy must continue to grow as part of Australia’s energy mix and we are genuine about the sector’s future – A vision of a smart modern 21st century Australia that has renewable energy as a big part of our energy future.
Bill Shorten and Mark Butler
