Baz

And i have just had an irrigation system installed in our garden on the basis we would be getting our tax bonus - AAAAGGGHHHHHHHH!!


A law lecturer will today challenge the legality of the Federal Government's proposed tax bonus payments in the High Court.

University of New England law lecturer and former National party officer Bryan Pape will argue the tax bonus of up to $900 is a gift rather than a taxation measure, and does not comply with the Constitution.

Lawyers for the Taxation Commissioner claim the Act that validates the payments is lawful.

The governments of New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia will also make submissions.

The case was urgently listed after the court and parties agreed it needed to be heard before the end of the month because the roll-out of payments is expected to begin in April.

The hearing is set down for two days.

Mr Pape denies he is politically motivated and says he is mounting the challenge out of concern for the Constitution, not to spoil the Government's $42 billion plan.

"It really stems from a paper I gave to the Samuel Griffiths Society back in 2005 and that's when I canvassed most of these issues and surprisingly, let's say, a suitable vehicle came along to test this issue," Mr Pape said last week.

"What the High Court will decide is whether this tax bonus is valid and to make it valid it needs to come under some head of power, legislative power which the Commonwealth has.

"Some of the powers are, for example, taxation and that was the first one that come to mind."

Broad Shoulders

he sounds like an attention seeker this guy, just looking to get his name in print so he can further his career.

NedKelly

Good luck to him. This $900 bonus is a sop to get people to vote labor and will do nothing for the economy.

comet555

I'm surprised you didn't notice it earlier in the news or on this forum. Here are a few links from about 10-11 days ago.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=598720
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...19/2520178.htm

sj oldfield

Quite agree.................I also think its wrong they way they have administered it!

Hebe

Couldn't agree more.

kporte

I feel quite ambiveant about whether we get it or not. I don't agree with it and will be uncertain what to do with it if we do get it.
How can you register a protest? Send it back? Burn the cheque/cash?

bridie

send it to me and i'll write a letter of complaint to krudd for you

kporte

I may give it to some down and outs.

kim69

i think its agreat idea and does help the economy we got the first round of payments and then the second one at xmas we didnt really need it so just put it towards a jetski so id say we helped the ecomomy putting money thro shop till keeping sales man in work.
we should get 1800 dollars from this tax one so might buy set of skis and a wakeboard,so again helpin economy
all in all everyones a winner..and remember ruddy did say get it spent

moneypenny20

But there's no election on the horizon and the public have notoriously short memories when election time does come round. All they think about then is what the economy is like at that particular moment not whether they did or didn't get $900 several years previous.

Spending money before you have it is daft.

POW148

I dont agree with the $900 handout but by christ am I going to accept it. I pay enough tax on everything out here and a bit back wont hurt.

I will be spending the handout but not sure what on. I guess I will wait until it appears in my bank account first. (not that I dont trust our politicians!!!!!)

Barney

quoll

Well it probably helped with the Queensland state elections and Krudd will be hanging out for a double dissolution trigger and it wouldnt surprise me if he went for that asap while the public memory of his largesse is still strong. He's a very sneaky b*st*rd.

POW148

Kevin is no more sneeky than "little Johnny Howard" ever was.

Barney

Stu Ward

Do you have to be PR to get it ?

Stu