Australia Needs More Tax — Not Less

An Open Letter to our Political Leaders

Australia needs a stronger revenue base. In order to fund the services and infrastructure that Australia needs, we need more tax — not less. Our research shows that Australia is a low taxing country. In fact, we are one of the lowest taxing nations in the OECD. Ultimately, business will best fl ourish if a decent, cohesive society is maintained. In the lead up to the 2018 federal budget and the next federal election: We call upon all political leaders to reject a tax cuts race to the bottom, and instead focus on tackling tax avoidance, closing tax loopholes, and unfair tax concessions in order to build a stronger revenue base for the nation.

SIGNATORIES — Professor Peter Doherty AC Dr Michael Keating AC Anna Funder Nobel Prize Laureate, Physiology/Medicine 1996; Former Cabinet Secretary and Head of Novelist, Miles Franklin Prize Winner 2012 Australian of the Year 1997; Laureate Professor Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet; former Marcus Westbury Head of Department of Finance; former Head of Professor Carmen Lawrence Writer and Broadcaster the Department of Employment and Industrial Former Federal Minister, Premier of WA and Relations Ben Oquist Federal President of ALP Executive Director, The Australia Institute Sally McManus Professor John Quiggin Secretary, Australian Council of Trade Unions Dr Jim Stanford Professor, University of Queensland Economist and Director, Centre for Future Work Paul Bastian Dr David Morawetz National Secretary, Australian Manufacturing Dr Mark Zirnsak Founder and director, Social Justice Fund; Workers’ Union Tax Justice Network Australia former economic consultant to the World Bank Ian Dunlop Dr John Falzon Simon Chapman AO Formerly Chair Australian Coal Association, CEO CEO, St Vincent de Paul Society Emeritus Professor, University of Sydney Australian Institute of Company Directors, Senior Nixon Apple Professor Barbara Pocock AM, ASSA Executive, Shell Former Industry & Economic Advisor AMWU Emeritus Professor, Business School, University of South Australia Dr Tim Thornton Professor John Wiseman Lecturer, Department of Politics and Philosophy, Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, University The Hon Greg Combet AM La Trobe University of Melbourne Company director; former Federal Cabinet Minister; former ACTU National Secretary Karen Fisher Professor Alan Morris Professor, Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW Insititute for Public Policy and Governance, Emeritus Professor Bob Douglas AO University of Technology Sydney Director, Australia21; former executive director, Dr Jeremy Walker Business Council of Australia Lecturer, Social and Political Sciences, University Professor Patricia Apps of Technology Sydney Professor of Public Economics, Sydney Law Paul Barratt AO School, University of Sydney Former Secretary, Department of Defence; Hon Associate Professor Anne Junor Former Secretary, Department of Primary University of New South Wales; Editor, The James Legge Industries and Energy Economic and Labour Relations Review Company Director, Six Degrees Josh Bornstein Dr Gigi Foster Shelley Penn Lawyer, commentator, company director Associate Professor, School of Economics, Architect, Urbanist, Company Director University of NSW Business School Eva Cox AO Roy Green Adjunct Professor, University of Technology Associate Professor Lynne Chester Emeritus Professor, University of Technology Sydney Associate Professor, Department of Political Sydney Economy, University of Sydney Dr Alex Wodak AM Dr John McKinnon President, Australian Drug Law Reform Professor Donna Baines NGO Director and philanthropist Foundation; Director Australia21 Chair and Professor of Social Work and Policy Studies, University of Sydney Professor Paul Smyth Professor P.N. (Raja) Junankar Professor of Social Policy, University of Melbourne Emeritus Professor, School Of Business, Western Professor Gabrielle Meagher Sydney University Head, Department of Sociology, Macquarie Professor John Langmore University Professorial Fellow, School of Social and Political Emeritus Professor Meredith Edwards AM, ASSA Sciences, University of Melbourne University of Canberra Professor Fabrizio Carmignani Dean (Academic) Griffi th Business School, Griffi th Professor Harry Bloch Emeritus Professor Frank Stilwell University John Curtin Distinguished Emeritus Professor, Emeritus Professor Political Economy, University School of Economics and Finance, Curtin Business of Sydney The Hon Paul Stein AM QC School, Curtin University Former Judge of the NSW Court of Appeal; Emeritus Professor John King former President of the Anti-Discrimination Board Emeritus Professor, La Trobe University; Honorary Professor Federation University Australia Professor Lisa Cameron Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, University of Melbourne Visit > tai.org.au Authorised by E. Bennett, L1 Endeavour House, 1 Franklin St Manuka ACT 2603.