If Koutsantonis is right, and it is a review about everything then what about a review of the taxes paid by our wealthiest group.
The requirement for religious tax exemption is “a belief in a supernatural being, thing or principle” after that it is more or less open slather, amounting to around Thirty Thousand Million Australian Dollars lost to the Australian public purse per annum.
Why do rich old men in Rome not pay tax on their Australian businesses?.
Estimates of Australian Churches wealth are: Annual Revenue of the 10 biggest churches in Australia $48,000,000,000.00, (Forty Eight Thousand Million). From collection plates alone $3,000,000,000.00 (Three Thousand Million). Catholic Church assets $150,000,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Million). Other Churches assets $218,000,000,000.00 (Two Hundred and Eighteen Thousand Million).
In Australia, faith is optional and private. Yet, Federally, religious subsidies apply to income tax, fringe benefits tax, and the goods and services tax. State government exemptions cover land tax, payroll tax, stamp duties and car registration fees. Local governments provide exemptions from municipal rates. Concessions may also be granted for water and power charges, volunteer expenses, retirement villages, car parking exemptions, preachers and other employees wages, buildings, renovations and up-keep.
Annually these subsidies are estimated to cost us, the Australian community, in lost revenue or direct grant, around $30,000,000,000.00 (Thirty Thousand Million Dollars) per annum.
Income Tax – at corporate rates, $15,000,000,000 (Fifteen Thousand Million). CGT $6,500,000,000 (Six Thousand Five Hundred Million)
Grants for Chaplains in Schools $30,000,000 (Thirty Million), Grants for family religious family counselling, $64 Million, to Religious Schools $5,630 Million, religious abortion counselling, $20 Million, Faith convention $2 million and Catholic Youth day $140,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Forty Million that cost us)
State Payroll tax exemptions, Stamp duty exemptions, Land Tax exemptions and Rates Lost to Local Councils amount to another One and a half Million Million lost revenue dollars.( $1,500,000,000.00)
If it is a genuine State Tax Review and not just targeting non-labour voters? Review that.! One and a half Million Million lost revenue dollars. ($1,500,000,000.00) to the State of South Australia.
John Bolton, Gawler.