WHO PAYS TAXES IN AUSTRALIA?

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18819, 6 March 1931, Page 9

WHO PAYS TAXES IN AUSTRALIA?

Minority’s Unequal Burden. FEDERAL AUDITOR’S STRONG COMMENT. United Press Association—By Electric - Telegraph—Copyright (Received March 5, 11.25 p.m.) CANBERRA, March 5. The fact that 80 per cent, of the adult wage earners of Australia do not pay Federal income tax, and that 264,766 taxpayers out of 3,500,000 electors have to carry more than their share of the national burden, is the subject of pointed comment by the Commonwealth Auditor (General Cerrutty), whose annual report was presented to Parliament to-day. General Cerrutty attributed this anomalous position to the wide and unjustifiable character of the exemptions exercised by wage-earners, with families of four or five children, and others. He urges a thorough revision of pensions, and declares that the cost of old age, invalid and war pensions, namely £20,000,000 annually, absorbs one-third of the Commonwealth revenue. War pensions are on a wholly unjustifiable scale. Hundreds, suffering no physical disability are drawing these, as well as ordinary pay. Old age and invalid pensions are being paid to two-fifths of our women over sixty, irrespective of whether they have led dissolute or lawless lives, and thus the thrifty are called upon to contribute, by taxation to people often unworthy of assistance.