On the 13th August 1998, the Prime Minister, The Hon John Howard MP held a press conference at Parliament House to launch the Federal Government's tax plan for Australia's future. The plan incorporates significant historic changes to the Australian taxation system, which are to be guided by five key principles. The key principle of the Federal Government's tax reform proposal that is creating speculation and debate is the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax, commonly known as GST. This consumption tax has come under intense public and political scrutiny and questions have been raised as to the economic fairness of this proposal. According to Macionis and Plummer (1997, p.420) "capitalist economies produce a higher overall standard of living but also generate greater income disparity." The inequity of Australia's current economy is evident from the media release issued by the Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) 4pm Wednesday 17 March 1999 in response to the taxation statistics that were released the same day. Michael Raper, President of ACOSS stated that the taxation statistics revealed the gross inequalities in the distribution of wealth in Australian society today with "The top 10% of Australians owning 52% of the nation's wealth, while the bottom half owns a paltry 3%." On balance, does a capitalist economy promote a fair distribution of wealth and social power? I say not. Political support is gained by appealing to members of society with promises to act in their interests, more often directing this appeal to those individuals with wealth, social power and influence. The multi-million dollar advertising campaigns supporting the Federal Government's tax reform package and in particular the proposal of the Goods and Services Tax is funded by big businesses. The same big businesses that will benefit from the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax and that will benefit from the 30% cap on the Capital Gains Tax, an option being considered that can only strengthen the big businesses social power and capitalist ventures within Australian society.
AN INTRODUCTION TO AUSTRALIA Mainland Australia, with an area of 4.9 million square miles, is the largest island and the smallest continent on Earth. ... Western Australia is about the size of Western Europe. ... Australia is a land unlike any other. ... Typical Australian landscapes are very old. ... Much of Australia lacks reliable annual rainfall. ...
Australia's National Identity When such questions as "What is an Australian? What does an Australian look like? ... Now with a clear definition, it would seem relatively easy to determine Australia's National Identity. ... The reason to this uncertainty is because the very nature of Australia itself. ... In simple terms, Australian's want to believe that being an Australian should imply more than simply living here. ...
But, at the same time, it imposes on all of us on obligation to put Australia's interests first. " Australia is a land of migrants. The first group of migrants came to Australia over 40,000 years ago. ... Many of them paid their own fares to migrate to Australia. ... In today's society approximately three million Australians, which is one in every five, were born outside of Australia. ... When a large group of experienced and well-educated people migrate to Australia it is very much an advantage for Australia. ...
Australian democracy guarantees us our civic freedoms and our fundamental rights and equality, and it is the institutions of Australian democracy that enable diversity in our society to flourish. ... Diversity works for all Australians. ... They have made an enormous contribution to Australia, along with the unique contribution of Australia's Indigenous people, earlier migrants and their descendants. ... The Government is committed to mlticultural Australia, with policies and programs that unite us as Australians working to advance Australia fair. ... Every Australian benefits from...
As Australian film seeks to define an essential Australianness, they tend to adhere closely to a particular template, while slightly varying the ways in which they represent and resolve conflicts and the ways in which they relate to the broader issues of Australian identity and cultural values. The two films will be analysed to show the various ways in which they represent ideas of Australia and Australianness. ... Australian national identity in the past was created on the basis of an assumed masculinity; this unwritten proclamation appeared to lie at the heart of Australian self-image. .....
Multiculturalism has been a reality for Australia since the first fleet. ... It is due to this that most Australian citizens opposed non-white immigration, to preserve British culture and traditions as the dominant influence in Australia. Thus the "White Australia Policy" was developed, primarily allowing only white British and Irish settlers to migrate to Australia. ... "Australia should concentrate on eliminating immigrants' old ideas, on destroying the old worlds in the interest of a new Australia." ... Hence modifications were made to the "White Australia Policy". ...
Prior to WWII Australia was a very hard country to get into. ... It has allowed Australia to gather much needed population. ... As more and more migrants came to Australia until Approximately 1/5th of Australia's population was born overseas. "Immigration's the key" Prior to 1945 the White Australia Policy prevented anyone to enter Australia unless they were from Britain. ... With the introduction of this new policy any person in Europe can enter Australia as long as they gave up their culture and learned to live the Australian way of life. ...
Being Australian Being Australian means to enjoy life and live it to the full and is a feeling of joy and pride, being able to share its freedom, its riches and its happiness. ... To be an Australian is to be proud of what your country stands for. To most Australians, being an Australian means doing whatever you think is best for your country. ... To them, being an Australian meant sacrificing their life. ... To every person, being an Australian may mean different things. ...
Australian Climate (107 words) Rainfall in Australia is low as well as unreliable because of its size, and has a variety of climates. Its excessive dryness contributes to two thirds of Australia's land surface which is classed as desert or semi-desert. ... In summer, Northern Australia receives heavy rainfall, where as Southern Australia experiences dry conditions and is generally cooler. During winter, Northern Australia is still fairly sunny and warm while South Australia has cool wet winters, and Eastern Australia remains fairly wet all year round, in comparison to the western parts ...
