Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-18T06:03:10.077Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Australia’s Tax and Transfer System under Review: Evaluating Harmer and Henry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

Hazel Bateman*
Affiliation:
School of Risk and Actuarial Studies, The University of New South Wales
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Two timely reviews of Australia’s transfer and tax systems were commissioned by the incoming government in 2008, although the GST, tax exemption of superannuation payments to people aged over 60, and pre-announced personal income tax cuts were placed outside the scope of inquiry. Most of the recommendations of the Harmer Pension Review have been implemented, but most of the recommendations of the Henry Tax Review have not. The Henry recommendations provided for enhanced equity and efficiency through a broader and simplified base, concentrating revenue raising on personal and business income, private consumption, and economic rents from natural resources and land. They provide an integrated blueprint for ongoing debate over tax reform.

Type
Symposium
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2011

References

Australia’s Future Tax System (AFTS) (2008) Consultation Paper, December 2008, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.Google Scholar
Australia’s Future Tax System (AFTS) (2010a) Report to the Treasurer, December 2009: Part One — Overview (released 2 May), Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.Google Scholar
Australia’s Future Tax System (AFTS) (2010b) Report to the Treasurer, December 2009: Part Two — Detailed Analysis, Part 1 of 2 (released 2 May), Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.Google Scholar
Australia’s Future Tax System (AFTS) (2010c) Report to the Treasurer, December 2009: Part Two — Detailed Analysis, Part 2 of 2 (released 2 May), Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.Google Scholar
Australian Government (2009) Secure and Sustainable Pensions, May, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.Google Scholar
Harmer, J. (2009) Pension Review Report, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.Google Scholar
Swan, W. (2008) Australia’s future tax system, Media Release No. 036, 13 May, available: http://ministers.treasury.gov.au/DisplayDocs.aspx?doc=pressreleases/2008/036.htm&pageID=003&min=wms&Year=2008&DocType=0 [accessed 27 October 2011].Google Scholar
Swan, W. (2010) Stronger, fairer and simpler: A tax plan for our future, Media Release No. 028, 2 May, available: http://ministers.treasury.gov.au/DisplayDocs.aspx?doc=pressreleases/2010/028.htm&pageID=003&min=wms&Year=&DocType= [accessed 27 October 2011].Google Scholar