Tax

This update has become something of a weekly policy analysis wrap, given the flurry of announcements we’re getting ahead of a federal election that now looks like it’ll be held on or before 12 April (today is the deadline for a 29 March election to be called).

A sugary drink tax will do more harm than good.

Ed Husic’s call for genuine corporate tax reform could boost investment, raise wages, and drive economic growth. But do we have the political willpower to get it done?

Facebook leaving Australia shows that the media bargaining code backfired. The government misdiagnosed the problem and harmed consumers while benefiting the big media companies. It’s time to cut our losses, accept that the code was a mistake, and focus on real solutions to support local media.

Here are a few short takes for you to chew over on the weekend, from the week’s happenings that probably didn’t need a full post. 1. Stepped on by stamp duty # Move over income tax, because the always-interesting folks at the e61 Institute released a note this week looking at another highly inefficient tax: stamp duty. According to the authors, it now costs the average city dweller five months of after-tax income just to move house. And yes, our old friend bracket creep is largely responsible: