Re: The mining tax
 

...so basically no real good reasons as to why this specific tax is a bad idea is offered, apart from the reasons that have already proven to be pure phallacy. So instead, let's just assassinate the tax idea by association to Labor and make it all about politics.

Can you see why I am so dubious about these people who cry poor about this mining tax? Instead of offering up rational reasons why it is bad you decide to make it about politics. It's sod all to do with Politics and everything to do with Australia and Australians getting their fair share from these fat cats who have been too used to lighting their cigars with our $100 notes.

Bring it on I say...and I hope they turn their attentions to the banking industry next. We will hear exactly the same excuses from them if such a tax is imposed. "We were the only banks in the world not to be in financial trouble, we pulled Australia through the GFC" etc etc.

Meanwhile the people bitching on here about this tax are probably the same lot who bitch about how much we get ripped off by the banks, grocers and all other monopolistic industries in Australia...at least this way we get something back

Re: The mining tax
 

You think banks won't increase their charges to consumers if they have taxes hiked on them? You won't get anything back because the government will waste it like governments do and you will pay more for the privilege.

Re: The mining tax
 

So let's just let all these industries rip us off then. I agree that it is not the most efficient way of getting what we need out of them. However, since this has suddenly become about politics, why don't we look at how the previous Howard Govt was responsible for the position we are in today with the Big Four banks. They were the ones who allowed the big four to gobble up the other banks therefore reducing competition. Now we are in the position that the likes of NAB, ANZ, Rio and BHP have so much political clout that they can get away with ripping off their subjects.

Re: The mining tax
 

You are mixing up the issues to muddy the water.

How are these industries & banks ripping us off?

Re: The mining tax
 

Very good point.

It makes me laugh when guys like Andrew Forrest (who I have a lot of time for BTW) and Clive Palmer go on about saving Australia from the GFC. Mining companies shelved most of their projects (now starting up again though) and put loads of guys out of work. Now I understand the need for them to do this (you've gotta take the rough with the smooth. We get very well paid when times are good but it all goes to shit in the bad times) but then they shouldn't go on about saving us from the GFC, because IMO it's not true.

Re: The mining tax
 

If the CBA reduced their mortgage interest rates by 1.3%, they could achieve charity status as they would no longer be profitable.

Re: The mining tax
 

So who did, Wayne Swan? :rofl::rofl:

Re: The mining tax
 

:rolleyes:
For someone who likes to base their postings on facts and stats you are really coming out of your shell on this topic.

maybe the incessant fees that are put upon customers. "Account Keeping fees"....what account keeping?

Re: The mining tax
 

No mate, YOU decided to "muddy the water" by making this about Labor and politics, which was a deliberate attempt to make the Mining Tax about Labor's failings as your only arguments against the mining tax was thought up by fairies and proven to be bollocks

Re: The mining tax
 

Why does anyone person or industry have to be responsible for Australia not being in a recession?

Re: The mining tax
 

Although I hate to admit it, he probably did have a part in shielding Australia from the GFC. I didn't agree with the $900 cheque for everbody (apart from me!) but generally the stimulus was a good idea. The BER is a f**king mess and heads should roll because of it but it is keeping a lot of people in work. More money should have been spent on decent infrastrusture though.

Re: The mining tax
 

I reckon people are mugs if they pay charges they are not happy with, I closed my 2 CBA accounts a while back and moved the cash to a bank that doesn't charge fees.

Re: The mining tax
 

same here. I'm with a credit union and this doesn't apply to me, but I am still shocked with what the banks get away with here.

Re: The mining tax
 

Noooo! Never though you'd fall for that Keynsian BS. School sheds no one wants, roof insulation that sets houses on fire, propping up high house prices with first time buyer handouts.

Taking the economy from surplus to billions in debt.

It's all going to have to be paid back, and the plan was for the mining companies to do it. Now that looks like it's been binned it's going to be the likes of you and me to pay it back, plus interest, of course.

Re: The mining tax
 

Agreed that it was a mess. The problem though with spending stimulus money on infrastructure is that the benefits of such a cash injection are not felt immediately. The whole point of the stimulus injection was that the money needed to flow through the Australian economy immediately. Spending money on roads, public transport, hospitals was not going to achieve this. They needed fast effects to save Australia from being sucked into the GFC. Some of the concepts were good....and some were bad unfortunately.

I like to think I did a good thing with my stimulus money. I spent it on getting a tradie in to add another room to the house. It put someone in work and I invested it at the same time.