The Morrison government has introduced staged changes to income tax thresholds, which — although not legislated according to gender — is having markedly different impacts on men and women, according to The Australia Institute.
The key findings
- In 2018–19, the benefit split between women and men is 47 per cent and 53 per cent.
- In 2024–25, about $11 billion will go to men and about $6 billion will go to women.
- The top 10 per cent of taxpayers get 31 per cent of the tax cut; of that, 23 per cent goes to men in the top 10 per cent, and 8 per cent goes to women in the top 10 per cent of taxpayers.
“Men are set to benefit the most from the government’s tax cuts. The final stage of the tax cuts due to come into effect in 2024–25 will see men get $2 in tax cuts for every dollar women get,” said senior economist Matt Grudnoff.
“The final stages of these tax cuts will further entrench gender inequality.”
With the slowing economy, The Australia Institute has advised for an intelligent fiscal stimulus now instead of waiting until 2024.
“With the slowing economy, the government needs to be clever with its fiscal stimulus. The tax cuts to high-income earners in 2024–25 are not well targeted and are too far off to help the economy right now,” Mr Grudnoff said.
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