The government has called an election and is now in caretaker
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Media releases
2004
Support for Organisations Affected by Eligibility Changes to Fringe Benefits Tax Concessions
The Government has tonight announced that it will provide transitional grants
to assist certain state and territory and local government organisations that
have lost their concessional fringe
Wine Industry Assistance
The Government has tonight announced significant changes to the current wine tax arrangements which will provide over $300million in tax relief to the Australian wine industry over the next four ye
More Help for Families
Australian families will benefit from increased family assistance worth $19.2billion over five years under the Government’s More Help for Families package.
Personal Tax Cuts
The 2004-05 Budget provides cuts to personal income tax to the value of $14.7billion over four years and will ensure that more than 80 per cent of taxpayers will remain in or below the 30per cent t
Boosting Retirement Savings
The Government is tonight announcing a package of measures designed to provide Australians with greater incentives to save for their retirement.
Government Reaffirms the Existing Corporate Taxation Treatment of Options Granted to Employees
On 19 February 2004 the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) issued International Financial Reporting Standard 2 Share-based Payment.
Consumer Price Index - March Quarter 2004
Today’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) shows that inflation remains low, with the All Groups CPI increasing by 0.9 per cent in the March quarter 2004 and yearly inflation declining to 2.0percent.
Australia Encourages IMF/World Bank to Increase Efforts in Supporting Trade Liberalisation
At the IMF/World Bank Ministerial meetings in Washington, DC, the Treasurer highlighted that a successful conclusion of the Doha Round of multilateral trade liberalisation was the largest single po
Productivity Commission Inquiry into National Competition Policy Arrangements
The Australian Government has asked the Productivity Commission to inquire into the impact of competition policy reforms undertaken by Australian governments to date, and to identify areas of oppor
IMF Predicts Continued Strong Growth for The Australian Economy
The IMF in the April 2004 World Economic Outlook expects that
Australia’s strong economic performance will continue.
Treasurer to attend the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington
The Treasurer will attend the Spring Meetings of the Board of Governors of
the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, and associated meetings
that will be held in Washington DC fro
Australia Forgives Nicaragua's Debt
The Treasurer, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Trade
are pleased to announce that the Australian Government has forgiven Nicaragua’s
bilateral debt to Australia of $5.4
2004-2005 Budget - Media Lock-Up Arrangements
The Treasurer will deliver the 2004-2005 Budget at 7.30 pm AEST on Tuesday
11 May 2004.
Labor's Policy Bungles
A costing of Labor’s Baby Care package announced yesterday has revealed
that the package faces a $347 million shortfall.
Release Of Discussion Paper on Income Tax Self Assessment
Today I am releasing a discussion paper on the income tax self assessment system. The discussion paper represents the latest stage of the Government’s Review of Income Tax Self Assessment.
Meeting of the Ministerial Council for Commonwealth-State Financial Relations and Outcome of the Australian Loan Council
All the States and Territories will abolish Bank Account Debits tax by 1 July
2005 as a result of an agreement between the Australian Government and the State
Governments today.
$20 Million for Clubs in New South Wales
All registered clubs in New South Wales will be guaranteed to receive the gaming
rebate which was earlier denied by the NSW government.
Latham's $8 Billion Pension Gaffe
Opposition Leader Mark Latham has again demonstrated his policy weakness by
making an $8 billion error in his pensions policy.
National Accounts: December Quarter 2003
Today’s National Accounts — with gross domestic product(GDP) increasing by 1.4percent— show the strongest quarterly growth in fouryears.
Australia's Demographic Challenges
The Treasurer released today a discussion paper – Australia’s
Demographic Challenges – to encourage community debate about our future
and the need to prepare for the impact of Australia’s ag