Latest newsletter #158 Click to read online

Intergenerational Report 2015

Intergenerational Reports detailing demographic and economic changes in Australia are compiled every five years. The 2015 Intergenerational Report provides us with an insight into the challenges we will face over the next 40 years and decisions we need to make now. A copy can be obtained from The Manager, Communications, The Treasury, Langton Crescent Parkes ACT 2600. Email: medialiasion@treasury.gov.au A summary can be read at the Treasury website: www.treasury.gov.au

Treasurer the Hon. Joe Hockey describes the Intergenerational Report as "a social compact between the generations - children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents and each other. We are at a critical juncture in our history. To help us make the right choices, the Intergenerational Report sets out what we need to do if we are to maintain and improve our standards of living. It is fantastic that Australians are living longer and healthier lives but we need to address demographic changes. If we don't do something, we risk reducing our available workforce, impacting negatively on growth and prosperity, and our income will come under increasing pressure....."

And what are these demographic changes? In 1970 there was an average of 7.5 people of working age relative to those of pension age. This has shrunk to 4.6 today and it will again halve by 2055 to just 2.7 workers for every retiree. Not mentioned in the 2015 Report or the Treasurer's speech are the 100,000 Australian babies killed every year by abortion, possibly four million by 2055. If these babies had lived there would have been a big difference to the sustainability of our economy and prosperity.

The Treasurer went on to say that "to drive higher levels of prosperity through economic growth we must increase participation [in the workforce]...... we need to encourage those currently not in the workforce, especially older Australians and women to enter, re-enter and stay in work, where they choose to do so...."

If the Treasurer intends to coax or economically coerce more women of childbearing age into the paid workforce, this will further depress Australia's birth rate, and aggravate the "intergenerational" problem he is trying to solve. A better and fairer policy would be to provide taxation justice for the single income family as recommended by Senator Matthew Canavan (LNP, Queensland) through income splitting and/or increasing the tax-free threshold. Senator Canavan says international analysis shows Australia has one of the most hostile tax systems in the world for single income families. Below an abridged version of his email to Babette

"Babette -
Thank you for taking the time to sign my family based taxation petition. I now need your help to bring this idea to reality. The Coalition Government will be announcing a families package for the budget in six week's time. I am pushing hard to ensure that this package covers all families - including those that rely on one parent for most of their income. ..... The best way you can help is to write to The Treasurer Joe Hockey (J.Hockey.MP@aph.gov.au), pointing out that:
* there are around one million Australian families that rely on one parent for most of their income
* these families are discriminated against in our current tax system because they don't benefit from access to two tax free thresholds
* there are massive societal and child development benefits for having a mum or dad stay at home to look after their young children. We must support them too.
* spread word of this petition amongst your networks and encourage others to sign:
h t t p : / / w w w . m a t t c a n a v a n . c o m . a u / family_based_taxation_petition
....Thank you again for helping me with this important policy idea. [Helpful hints for wording letters are also provided] Kind regards,
Matt Canavan". http://www.mattcanavan.com.au/
As part of our compact with the elderly, we need to oppose Euthanasia. (See index page for Family Council of Victoria meeting).


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