Nicola Willis, New Zealand’s finance minister, said the country would be willing to welcome any Australians hoping to “start or grow a business”. have an “epic opportunity” to do so amid Australia’s upcoming changes to negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount.
Willis spoke to Sky News this morning. saying New Zealand had a “very simple tax system” with a “low rate” of taxation. She went on:
double quotation mark We keep it simple, we allow you accelerated depreciation and deductibility on your capital investments. And you’ve got a government that is very pro growth, anti-red tape.
We’re on a reforming mission to make this one of the best places in the world to do business.
Willis had a simple message for Australians: “Where the bloody hell are you? Come over”.
On the flip side, many New Zealanders have looked to Australian shores for opportunity. Read more about that shift here:
ATO issues $1,650 fine to 97-year-old woman who had not ‘prioritised tax obligations’ after husband’s death
The Australian Taxation Office fined a 97-year-old Brisbane woman $1,650 because she had not “prioritised her tax obligations”. despite the recent death of her husband who managed their financial affairs.
The decision was only overturned after her accountant posted details of the incident on LinkedIn – catching the attention of industry associations. the tax ombudsman, who issued a stinging rebuke direct to the ATO.
After a lifetime of submitting tax returns on time. the elderly Brisbane resident lost her husband in mid-2023, according to details provided to Guardian Australia by accountant Nathan Watt.
Her circumstances were further complicated by the sale of the tax practice formerly used by the couple.
The unemployment rate climbed to 4.5% in April. from 4.3% in the month before, as the number of employed Australians dropped by 18,600.
The unexpected lift in the jobless rate threatens a lengthy period of extraordinary job market resilience. as economists predict the global oil crisis will drive a sharp slowdown in growth this year.
Full-time employment fell by 10,700 people, and part-time employment decreased by 7,900, the Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed.
Nicola Willis, New Zealand’s finance minister, said the country would be willing to welcome any Australians hoping to “start or grow a business”. have an “epic opportunity” to do so amid Australia’s upcoming changes to negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount.
Willis spoke to Sky News this morning. saying New Zealand had a “very simple tax system” with a “low rate” of taxation. She went on:
double quotation mark We keep it simple, we allow you accelerated depreciation and deductibility on your capital investments. And you’ve got a government that is very pro growth, anti-red tape.
We’re on a reforming mission to make this one of the best places in the world to do business.
Willis had a simple message for Australians: “Where the bloody hell are you? Come over”.
On the flip side, many New Zealanders have looked to Australian shores for opportunity. Read more about that shift here:
Taylor says gas tax would be ‘harmful’ as Hanson prepares to unveil Norwegian-style policy
The opposition leader said a gas tax would be “harmful”, trading relationships would be damaged, investors would take capital elsewhere. projects wouldn’t proceed.
The One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson, is scheduled to address the gas conference later this afternoon, where she is expected to unveil a policy to replace the PRRT with a 10% royalty on all offshore oil. gas production.
Hanson will also reportedly push a Norwegian-style scheme in. the Commonwealth takes an equity stake in projects in exchange for helping to cover exploration costs.
Taylor tells gas industry to ‘start making noise’
The Liberal leader, Angus Taylor, has urged the oil. gas industry to “start making noise” and fight their detractors in a speech reaffirming the Coalition’s opposition to a 25% export tax.
Taylor used an appearance at the Australian Energy Producers conference in Adelaide on Thursday to renew his commitment to abandon a net zero emissions target, scrap the safeguard mechanism. promote more “digging and drilling” to achieve what he describes as “energy abundance.
The opposition leader also issued a message to the oil. gas industry, which is fighting against a campaign to replace the petroleum resource rent tax (PRRT) with a flat 25% tax on gas exports.
The federal government balked at changes in last week’s federal budget. will face ongoing pressure – including from Labor-aligned trade unions. Taylor said:
double quotation mark We have a government that’s hostile to your sectors. doesn’t appreciate the Australians who work in it – or what they do for our country. The Coalition can’t take the fight up for your sectors alone. You need to start making noise. You need to use every campaign tool at your disposal – especially social media. Push back against your detractors.
Victoria police say the suspicious item found at Melbourne’s Avalon airport this morning was determined to be a laser hair removal device.
The bomb response unit conducted checks after emergency officials were called to the domestic terminal around 6am, prompting the terminal’s evacuation. closure.
The domestic terminal at Melbourne’s Avalon airport is now reopen and operations have resumed.
A spokesperson for the airport said Victoria police have deemed the item is no longer a risk. They added:
double quotation mark Today’s response demonstrates the vigilance of the screening. security processes, with precautionary measures taken immediately to ensure the safety of passengers, staff and the broader community, which will always remain our highest priority.
Passengers are encouraged to chat with their airline for flight updates.
A ‘very serious outbreak of a very serious disease’, health minister says of diphtheria spread
The health minister, Mark Butler, is speaking about the diphtheria outbreak in the Northern Territory and neighbouring Queensland and WA. He said the federal government has been providing thousands of vaccine doses to be administered to remote communities. adding a booster is a highly effective way to protect yourself.
“This is a very serious outbreak of a very serious disease,” Butler said. The health minister went on:
double quotation mark Obviously we also need to ensure that there are adequate doses of antibiotics for those who have acquired the infection. particularly the respiratory form of the infection, because that can be a very, very serious disease as well. …
There are sufficient doses of vaccines, I’m told, in the Territory, but the need for additional workers to get out. get the needles into the arms that need them.
Back to the shutdown at Melbourne’s Avalon airport this morning
Several travellers have called into local radio this morning to discuss their snarled travel plans. David told 3AW Breakfast that he arrived on the scene before a schedule flight to Brisbane,. he couldn’t get in the terminal. He said:
double quotation mark There’s people queued up for miles. They blocked it off at the entrance way where the roundabout is. people actually walking out on foot from the airport. They’re sort of blocked us off.
I’d love to know what’s going on.
He went on to say “no one’s telling us a thing”. adding people had been leaving the airport on foot after it was shuttered.
Stuart said he saw similar scenes while driving past Avalon airport, telling 3AW:
double quotation mark I’ve just come past Avalon … there’s cars everywhere out in the front,. people have even pushed their luggage trolleys all the way from the airport … to outside the premises on the road.
Minister for Indigenous Australians speaks on the latest on the growing diphtheria outbreak
Malarndirri McCarthy, the minister for Indigenous Australians, was just on ABC’s News Breakfast program speaking about growing concerns on the worst diphtheria outbreak in decades with more than 220 cases across the Northern Territory, Western Australia. Queensland, largely affecting First Nations communities.
The federal government announced a $7m support package to further support national. Aboriginal-controlled community health responses to the disease; McCarthy said the package will immediately support vaccination drive efforts.
“We have seen programs rolling out in places like Yuendumu in language. We know that we’ve got over 100 Aboriginal languages. We need to ensure that the communication is there, not misinformation, McCarthy said.
double quotation mark We certainly saw that through Covid. we need to ensure that the right information is getting out to our remote and regional communities.
The federal government. health authorities are urging those in affected areas to ensure they are vaccinated and up to date with their inoculations.
double quotation mark We know that the immunisation rates have been there for our children … Our call is really to adults to not think that you are immune. make sure you’re getting checked. So, it’s really important that adults also know that this isn’t just about children. This is actually all people of all ages.
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