Here is an interview with a Labor pollie explaining it. Perhaps the media will now pick up on it.
GAI BRODTMANN (Canberra): Well as someone who used to have a small business, this is going to benefit millions of Australian small businesses as well as, it’s not just the tax cuts to business, it’s also the superannuation benefits to 8.4 million Australians. So there’s significant knock on effects and benefits from this tax and bring it on, I say.
QUESTION: That superannuation is paid for by the businesses, it’s not paid for by the Government.
GAI BRODTMANN: Well the superannuation will be, in terms of how it is paid for, will be discussed in enterprise agreements over coming years. It’s going to be phased in over time and it will be subject to those enterprise agreements.
QUESTION: [inaudible] 15 per cent tax rate contributions [inaudible].
GAI BRODTMANN: This tax is all about sharing Australia’s wealth, right throughout the country. So it’s not in the hands of a few, it’s the hands of many and so what we’ve got is benefits to millions of Australians in terms of superannuation boosts and also tax cuts to small business.
QUESTION: But that superannuation isn’t coming from the miners. It’s coming from those small businesses that you say need the help.
GAI BRODTMANN: Those discussions will be held over time once it’s phased in.
QUESTION: What does that mean, sorry?
GAI BRODTMANN: That the discussions on the superannuation and how that actually is introduced will be discussed over time and phased in over time and it will be discussed in the course of enterprise agreements.
QUESTION: So you’re suggesting there might be another alternative to the small businesses paying that themselves?
GAI BRODTMANN: No. What? ...
QUESTION: So what are these discussions?
GAI BRODTMANN: The discussions between employees and employers.
QUESTION: If the employers have to pay it, what are the discussions [inaudible]?
GAI BRODTMANN: No, the discussions between how it is actually, how it is going to be introduced, those discussions need to be held between employees and employers.
QUESTION: So eventually they’ll need to pay it.
GAI BRODTMANN: The, but the discussions need to be held between employees and employers.
QUESTION: But do you think that these discussions could lead to changes to the legislation?
GAI BRODTMANN: I’m not aware of that.
QUESTION: So why would small business need to have discussions though? To still discuss this policy?
GAI BRODTMANN: No, I’m talking about. No. Let’s just…Let’s leave it at that. Yep. Next question?
QUESTION: What?
Bill Shorten says it will be part of the package employees negotiate with business owners. Eg less of a pay rise?! Mind you unions dont see it that way. They just see it as a freebie with no productivity offsets required.
But it is a seriously incompetent government so what ya expect!
