Answering antagonism
Reply to the letter by Wal Pritchard, Mercury, April 25, 2017. May I answer Mr Pritchard's antagonism towards Australian industry and company tax cuts with quotes from people on both the right and left wing of the Labor Party. In 1993, Paul Keating said: "We lowered the company tax rate from 39 per cent to 33, providing Australian industry with a business tax system competitive with any in the world".
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In 2010, Anthony Albanese said, "There is also the reform of company tax. We on this side of the chamber believe it should be reduced by 2 per cent". In 2012, Bill Shorten said, "Corporate tax reform helps Australia's private sector grow and it creates jobs right up and down the income ladder". In 2012, Penny Wong said, "Lowering of company tax rate is good economic policy". In 2013, Chris Bowen said, "Our ambition would be lower company tax rates over time because it improves our international competitiveness.
Adrian Devlin, Fairy Meadow
Costs passed on
In 2012 the O’Farrell government sold the Sydney desalination plant (a Sydney Water Corporation asset) on a 50-year lease to investors Hastings Funds Management and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, for $2.3 billion. Since the sale the leaseholder pass on costs of about $200 million a year to Sydney Water, for maintenance and to keep the plant on standby in case of drought. In December 2015 a mini-tornado hit the SDP ripping off the roof, destroying electrical equipment, damaging control devises, and the plant itself. The repairs are expected to be completed by the middle of 2018 at a cost to the NSW Government of roughly $500 million.
John Macleod, Berry
With disgraced former NSW LABOR minister Ian Macdonald and his close friend “Union Boss” John Maitland about to be sentenced for corruption, a reasonable person would have thought NSW politicians and their greedy mates had received due warning? Not so it would seem for Minister for Sport and the Westconnex Project, Stuart Ayres!
It was revealed Mr Ayres failed to disclose benefits provided to him by GWS Giants; representing a clear breach of NSW parliamentary requirements.
By itself, a serious circumstance, one which was to become even more serious; with the disclosure that subsequent to receiving benefits on sixteen occasions from GWS Giants, minister Ayres approved Sydney Motorway Corporation purchasing the “naming rights” of GWS Giants for the next three years.
The purchase of the “naming rights” was funded by NSW taxpayers. Minister Ayres and Sydney Motorways Corporation have declined to place a figure on the amount of NSW taxpayer’s money involved. The “naming rights” deal represents Liberal Party “pork barrelling” in order to boost its image in Western Sydney.
Barry Swan, Balgownie
Workplace Fatalities
According to ‘the usual suspect’, ACTU Secretary, Sally McManus “has damaged the ACTU”, as a result of her comments regarding workplace fatalities. The ‘usual suspect’ claims she lacks credibility because none of the legal proceedings against the CFMEU involves workplace fatalities.
In the event of a workplace fatality, Work Cover and W.H.&S. are notified immediately. This is a legal requirement and an investigation is immediately undertaken. Included in the investigation is the Union’s Health and Safety Representative. The WorkSafe Legal Process is an eight page information booklet that provides information on legal processes, including the investigation, potential prosecution of the workplace and an outline on court proceedings. This comes under the Government jurisdiction and is not part of Abbott’s CFMEU Royal Commission which hunt. Up until 26 April 2017 there has been 51 fatalities. Last year there was 178 fatalities.
Don Kelly, Kanahooka
