Invest
Indebted until 2056: Why we need tax reform
An 18-year-old entering the workforce in 2020 can’t expect to see another federal budget surplus until they are at least 37 years old, new modelling has revealed.
Indebted until 2056: Why we need tax reform
An 18-year-old entering the workforce in 2020 can’t expect to see another federal budget surplus until they are at least 37 years old, new modelling has revealed.
PwC has analysed government budget figures to reveal that it could take the Australian government another 19 years to return to a budget surplus due to COVID-19.
It also said that Scott Morrison and the Treasury’s aim to reach zero net debt could be 27 years away.
The big four firm’s forecasting pre-pandemic showed that the budget was projected to reach zero net debt in 2029-30, but due to ballooning deficits and the current economic climate, this will be delayed until at last 2056-57.
By the end of March 2020 – the month when the pandemic was declared in Australia – the Commonwealth’s net debt was around $430 billion, approximately $37 billion higher than the most recent end of financial year forecasts had predicted.
PwC said it expects this burden to grow even further.
As a result, that same 18-year-old cannot expect net debt in Australia to hit zero until they near the age of 55.
The grim outlook has caused the professional services giant to call for significant tax reforms and an overhaul to the Australian tax system.
Tax partner Paul Abbey said tax reform will be needed “more than ever in post-COVID-19 Australia”.
“Now is the time to be planning for comprehensive changes to the tax system.”
Despite the stance, PwC is also cautioning against acting too soon – warning that the country’s health and economic situation must be stabilised before any changes can be implemented.
According to Mr Abbey, tax reform in the midst of COVID-19’s economic shock would pose “further disruption to householders and businesses that are already being asked to change on many fronts, and may give rise to reforms that will need to be recalibrated once some stability returns”.
“But that does not mean that we should be doing nothing,” he continued.
“Now is the time to plan for reforms as we emerge from the immediate crisis.”
While yet to reveal how exactly this reform could take place, PwC has argued that reform “should be undertaken through a transparent process”.
This should further build on the public trust that the consultancy firm said “has been established in the way governments, business, unions and community groups have come together to respond to the COVID-19 crisis”.
The firm’s chief economist, Jeremy Thorpe, has also weighed in, noting the reform process needs to be seen “as fair and equitable”.
“This also means that excluding certain taxes or concessions from any review will undermine trust and affect the acceptability of any final package of reforms.”
Did you enjoy this article? You may also be interested in:
About the author
About the author
Economy
5 ways the election could impact your US investments
With the Biden v Trump election just around the corner, investors in the US market need to watch out for a host of possible scenarios in the event of a changing government, an industry expert has flag...Read more
Economy
Lots of ammo, wrong target: Budget fails to hit its mark
The latest Treasury budget is the right size but is poorly targeted, with the focus on supply when a lack of demand is the real issue, according to an expert. ...Read more
Economy
Administrations rise as zombie firms accept reality
Business administrations have started to rise for the first time since June, with Victoria and Queensland recording the biggest spikes, new data from CreditorWatch has shown. ...Read more
Economy
Does the central bank favour the rich?
Current monetary policy strategies, including slashing cash rates and quantitative easing, are inflating asset prices and creating a greater inequality gap, an industry expert has said. ...Read more
Economy
Renewable energy, childcare subsidiary to kickstart the economy
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has promised childcare subsidies and an overhaul of the energy system as part of his plan to kickstart the economy. ...Read more
Economy
Rate cuts possible on Melbourne Cup Day: expert
The Reserve Bank of Australia could be looking to adjust official interest rates on Melbourne Cup Day for the first time in more than a decade, according to mortgage aggregator Finsure Group. ...Read more
Economy
Super fund CEO slams economic weaknesses
One of Australia’s biggest super funds has called the 2020 budget a “missed opportunity” to address the systemic weaknesses in the economy which have been exposed by COVID-19. ...Read more
Economy
Budget 2020 unveiled: The path out of the pandemic
Seven months overdue, the long-awaited federal budget has been delivered, setting out a much-anticipated plan for economic recovery post-COVID-19. Here’s what this might mean for you. ...Read more
Economy
5 ways the election could impact your US investments
With the Biden v Trump election just around the corner, investors in the US market need to watch out for a host of possible scenarios in the event of a changing government, an industry expert has flag...Read more
Economy
Lots of ammo, wrong target: Budget fails to hit its mark
The latest Treasury budget is the right size but is poorly targeted, with the focus on supply when a lack of demand is the real issue, according to an expert. ...Read more
Economy
Administrations rise as zombie firms accept reality
Business administrations have started to rise for the first time since June, with Victoria and Queensland recording the biggest spikes, new data from CreditorWatch has shown. ...Read more
Economy
Does the central bank favour the rich?
Current monetary policy strategies, including slashing cash rates and quantitative easing, are inflating asset prices and creating a greater inequality gap, an industry expert has said. ...Read more
Economy
Renewable energy, childcare subsidiary to kickstart the economy
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has promised childcare subsidies and an overhaul of the energy system as part of his plan to kickstart the economy. ...Read more
Economy
Rate cuts possible on Melbourne Cup Day: expert
The Reserve Bank of Australia could be looking to adjust official interest rates on Melbourne Cup Day for the first time in more than a decade, according to mortgage aggregator Finsure Group. ...Read more
Economy
Super fund CEO slams economic weaknesses
One of Australia’s biggest super funds has called the 2020 budget a “missed opportunity” to address the systemic weaknesses in the economy which have been exposed by COVID-19. ...Read more
Economy
Budget 2020 unveiled: The path out of the pandemic
Seven months overdue, the long-awaited federal budget has been delivered, setting out a much-anticipated plan for economic recovery post-COVID-19. Here’s what this might mean for you. ...Read more
More articles
Website Notifications
Get notifications in real-time for staying up to date with content that matters to you.
