JENNIFER WESTACOTT ON BANK TAX: IT EXPOSES GOVERNMENT "DESPERATION"

JENNIFER WESTACOTT ON BANK TAX: IT EXPOSES GOVERNMENT "DESPERATION"
South Australia's new bank levy exposes the desperation of a government that is unable to get its own budget and spending under control. 

The confused rationales for the tax are risible, and the knee-jerk approach to whacking job-creating businesses with ever higher taxes demonstrates how bereft we are becoming of good leadership.

The great shame is that, by imposing another 'one-off' burden on employers, this tax will make us an even less attractive place to invest and hire people.

South Australia faces 6.9 per cent unemployment the highest in the country and persistently weak economic growth that has lagged the national average for seven years now.

If global businesses are reluctant to invest in Australia, what are the odds they'll invest in South Australia?

It beggars belief that instead of supporting policies that will increase the investment needed to create jobs, such as a globally competitive company tax rate, the South Australian government is doing the opposite.

It is galling that a state government that is not prepared to make tough decisions to strengthen its own economy should impose a tax that will harm the investment environment across the entire country.

The Turnbull government must bear responsibility for letting the genie out of the bottle.

All of these 'one-off' government decisions, when taken together, have a chilling effect on business investment which is at its lowest level as a share of GDP since June 1994.

Australia is becoming a laughing stock of global investment circles as erratic governments state, territory and federal carelessly undermine and chop and change the rules of doing business.

Never miss a story: Sign up to Business News Australia's free news updates

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram

Get our daily business news

Sign up to our free email news updates.

 
Whitefox Recruitment founder Luke Hemmings making strides as a careers leader
Partner Content
After relocating his Canberra-founded company Whitefox Recruitment to the Gold Coast la...
Whitefox Recruitment
Advertisement

Related Stories

ASIC secures its first court win for greenwashing against US giant Vanguard

ASIC secures its first court win for greenwashing against US giant Vanguard

The Australian corporate watchdog has caught out one of the world&r...

Medicinal cannabis group Althea shaves $1.5m from its cost base through staff cutbacks

Medicinal cannabis group Althea shaves $1.5m from its cost base through staff cutbacks

Australian-founded medicinal cannabis company Althea Group (ASX: AG...

Charter Hall snares 15pc stake in Hotel Property Investments for $97m from 360 Capital

Charter Hall snares 15pc stake in Hotel Property Investments for $97m from 360 Capital

Listed funds manager 360 Capital Group (ASX: TGP) has offloaded its...

The party’s over: Splendour in the Grass festival cancelled for 2024

The party’s over: Splendour in the Grass festival cancelled for 2024

Splendour in the Grass, Australia’s largest winter music fest...