Australia's taxation system is a class-based network of taxes, levies and exemptions aimed at bolstering the wealth of the rich and the big corporations, and raising the bulk of government revenue from the working people and the poor. It is a key element of the capitalist class's utilisation of the state to maintain its wealth and its rule.
At the same time as tax rates for the wealthy and the big corporations are being reduced, high-come earners and big corporations are able to use loopholes in the system to artificially reduce their stated income and profits, and to dodge their real tax responsibilities.
The result is that many wealthy people and giant corporations end up paying very little or no tax. This must end. Laws and tax regulations, and the powers of the ATO (Australian Tax Office), must be strengthened to eliminate tax dodging by the corporations and the rich.
Finally, the GST (Goods and Services Tax) was introduced by the John Howard Coalition government in 2001 in the face of strong public opposition. It is an inherently regressive tax, which overwhelmingly affects consumption by ordinary people the most, and should be repealed.
Taxation is essential for the funding of public facilities, infrastructure and services, such as public health, education, transport and social welfare. A fair tax system would act as a redistributive mechanism to transfer wealth from the rich to the poor.
Socialist Alliance stands for a major restructuring of the current unfair system to one based on equality and sustainability.
To this end, we support the following measures: