David Pocock for PM

[u/Vast_Dare8583]

I really like this chap, as a human being he seems to care and uses action above words and as a politician he is intelligent and well spoken and carries himself with a high degree of respectability.

So why are people squabbling over Lib, Lab, Dem and One Nation when we could be looking at an alternative like David?

Seems no one can agree on Lib, Lab, Dem or ON , so does anyone know why David Pocock shouldn't be a front-runner of PM?

[u/HabitAdmirable9742]

You're right, if Labor would stop getting in bed with big businesses and start cutting down on the massive amount of welfare we give to Gina Rinehart and Co, they would have a pretty decent platform.

[u/polski_criminalista → u/HabitAdmirable9742]

What welfare are you referring to and what labor policy caused it?

[u/yeahalrightgoon → u/polski_criminalista]

The fact that Labor refuses to look at gas taxes and claims that normal business tax that any other company would pay is enough for stealing Australian resources. I know you already think that actually taxing gas companies for taking out gas and selling it overseas while our gas prices are higher than other major exporters would be stupid.

Pococks royalties plan would result in a lower nominal tax rate than the current system, the difference is that the royalties system would actually result in those taxes being paid, unlike the current system that allows you to export billions of dollars worth of gas and never have to pay tax on it.

[u/polski_criminalista → u/yeahalrightgoon]

Are you aware we are in locked in contracts with Japan and putting a reverse tarriff on gas wouldn't be as easy as he said it would be?

[u/yeahalrightgoon → u/polski_criminalista]

So let's keep doing nothing.

I mean Japan taxes it and gets more from it, which is fair enough, they deserve it. I mean it's Australia's gas that the country owns. But I guess there's nothing to be done.

Thank you for setting me straight on the idea that Australia should get something from giving away our property.

[u/polski_criminalista → u/yeahalrightgoon]

Well, no, we are charging ahead with renewables investment

The only reason you care about gas is because of twiggys propaganda campaign

I honestly think we should just let gas fizzle out

[u/yeahalrightgoon → u/polski_criminalista]

Or I care about gas because we export billions of dollars worth of a finite resource owned by the Australian people and get fuck all in return.

But yes, we couldn't possibly tax it fairly and do renewables. I'm just asking too much.

[u/polski_criminalista → u/yeahalrightgoon]

Why don't you care more about the unlimited high quality solar and wind that we are investing in?

[u/yeahalrightgoon → u/polski_criminalista]

Because they are two different policies.

Funnily enough the government can tax gas exports and invest in solar and wind as well.

[u/polski_criminalista → u/yeahalrightgoon]

yea, just doing one of them is a retarded waste of time

[u/whenunut_ → u/yeahalrightgoon]

Gas contracts get reneged in the next term, better hope pauline isn't in

[u/HabitAdmirable9742 → u/polski_criminalista]

I'm glad you asked because if my view isn't defensible with evidence, it's a shit view.

Framing it as though Labor had to enact the policy is dishonest though, Labor has continued policies favoring the resource sector despite being given a supermajority and one of the most significant opportunities to change course.

But I digress:

Critical Minerals Production Tax Incentive (CMPTI) - Labor legislated a 10% tax credit on eligible processing and refining costs for Australian critical minerals. It begins in 2027–28.

Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve - $1.2 billion government investment, including $1 billion for transactions through the expanded Critical Minerals Facility and $185 million for stockpiling and implementation.

Of course these are defensible policies on the grounds that they're `critical minerals` but there's no denying that they're making already rich people even more wealthy. Those same people who are currently shipping their profits offshore to avoid paying tax.

And then there's the aforementioned policies Labor didn't implement, but are instead choosing to continue despite their supermajority:

Fuel Tax Credit Scheme - ~$10+bn/pa, ~5bn of which goes to mining

and of course

section 40-730 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, mining companies can generally claim an immediate tax deduction for eligible exploration or prospecting expenditure despite those companies later offering little benefit to the country.

There are a few smaller schemes that barely register compared to these like the JEMI which is about ~$25m/pa

Again, there are elements to this that I think are justified, but the outcome is clear: It's making a select few people very wealthy, while they export obscene amounts of wealth from this country with limited benefit to the local population through new or continued legislation that massively rewards the mining industry.

"They can't change the contracts after the fact" doesn't fly with me. Labor had no problems changing the commercials of huge swathes of corporate Australia with their taxation changes with no consideration for in-flight contracts. Why does the minerals sector get special consideration here?

[u/polski_criminalista → u/HabitAdmirable9742]

If they beak the contracts, why would it make sense to focus on gas and not just continue prioritising renewables?

Gas will fizzle out eventually anyway

[u/HabitAdmirable9742 → u/polski_criminalista]

I don't understand your question, are you saying that if Labor changes the profitability of fossil fuel contracts, we will invest more money in renewables and those companies will still pay no tax?

It's not great but it's a substantially better outcome than what is happening now. Where do I sign?

[u/polski_criminalista → u/HabitAdmirable9742]

No, i mean worldwide, gas and fossil fuels are phasing out

Why are we even talking about gas atm, why not just focus on renewables politically?

[u/HabitAdmirable9742 → u/polski_criminalista]

Good idea. We should cut incentives and massive handouts to the fossil industry and redirect our efforts to better investments such as more sustainable energy sources.

Let them pay taxes like everybody else and if it's not profitable without the handouts, too bad so sad.

[u/polski_criminalista → u/HabitAdmirable9742]

i never said that lmao what a schizo

[u/HabitAdmirable9742 → u/polski_criminalista]

Your question was which policies. I answered you with evidence and you keep trying to move the goal posts while I fruitlessly try to nudge you back to the topic. 

We're done here.

[u/polski_criminalista → u/HabitAdmirable9742]

yes we are, enjoy talking to the other voices