Jacqui Lambie’s push for a reduction in the ‘backpacker tax’ to 10.5% has won senate approval yesterday.
The Government is planning to remove the immediate tax deduction for depreciating assets costing less than $6,500 and the accelerated depreciation allowances for motor vehicles which are currently available to small businesses (i.e. businesses with an annual aggregate turnover of less than $2 million).
The Asian Financial Forum last month brought together 1200 business leaders from throughout the Asia Pacific region and addressed many of the economic opportunities and issues that matter.
While interest rates may need to fall a bit further, green shoots of recovery suggest we are at or near the low and more importantly, point to an improvement in economic and profit growth over a 12 month horizon, according to Dr Shane Oliver, Chief Economist from AMP.
The fourth quarter of 2011 was rather lackluster, with Australia declining in confidence and market strength on the equity, commodity and property fronts into year-end.
Following consecutive cuts in April and May, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) left the overnight cash rate unchanged at 3.50% in July and in August.
The budget is coming. With just two weeks to go it looks like, the Government will deliver a budget with a strong long term outlook and an amount of short-term pain including the introduction of a debt levy.
In the wake of the Federal Budget consumer confidence has dipped in the quarter to June and our resilient Australian dollar is continuing to make our domestic outlook more difficult than it needs to be.
Quarter 1 of 2012 brought mixed messages in Australia, with two months of strength, followed by a weaker March.
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