AUSTRALIAN TAXES

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 130, 28 November 1940, Page 13

AUSTRALIAN TAXES

MINISTER GIVES NO APOLOGY

"WAR MUST BE WON"

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.)

CANBERRA, November 27,

Staggering taxation increases were announced by the Federal Treasurer, Mr. A. W. Fadden, in the House of Representatives today. The full impact of the blow will be felt when the weekly deductions from wages and salaries begin on January 1.

Then, for example, the taxpayer on an income of £600 with one., dependant will lose 38s a week in.Federal tax alone. Taxpayers on £400 with one dependant will pay 16s a week, and the man on £1000 will' pay £4 11s. Four shillings is being allowed for each dependant. Mr. Fadden introduced the. tax schedule with regret but "without apology." , The schedule relating to personal exertion provides for an average rate in the taxable income of: Is in. the £ to £300, thence increasing 4-100ths of a penny per £ to £1500, and an excess over £1500 by 10s per £. The property rate Will be 25 per cent greater than the personal exertion rates up to £1200 and an excess over £1200, 10s in the £. . ' . ''; . ■"' ■ ■■ A CHURCHILL PHRASE. Mr. Fadden,. in explaining the taxation' schedule, said that'the war must be won; and, to use a Churchill phrase, it could only be done through blood, tears, and sacrifice. No words were needed to justify even'the uncomfortable weight of taxation, Mr. Fadden said that the' weekly deductions under the. compulsory .instalment plan beginning^ on January 1 would rise-from Is-6d a-week on salaries of-; £3 to £5 a week ■on £20 salaries. This plan would continue until June 23. Those iri the higher-paid .class would,-in the aggregate, contribute £20,000,000, the middle income group £8,000,000, while wage-earners in; the under £400 groups-would be required to find £5,000,000! •