Irony doesn’t escape resident
I WONDER whether it has escaped people’s attention that, in the recently televised press conference by the new Leader of the Free World, the President was shown sitting in front of a flag on which part of the Great Seal of the United States was visible.
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Also visible was the Latin motto from the Great Seal: “E Pluribus Unum”, the translation of which is “out of many, one”.
An alternative translation would be “out of diversity, strength”.
Not exactly consonant with the new president’s immigration policy.
John Wadsworth
Leeton
Don’t forget about tax
IBISWORLD expects the controversial backpacker tax bill, passed in late 2016, to reduce the number of working holiday visa holders over the next five years.
Recent research indicates the tax will negatively affect operators in downstream industries, particularly agricultural industries that use backpackers to supplement their labour requirements, and hostels that predominately house backpackers.
Workers now under working holiday visas are classed as non-residents for tax purposes.
Backpackers working in Australia are now subject to a tax of 15 cents for every dollar of income earned up to $37,000, with foreign resident tax rates applying from $37,001.
In addition, working holiday visa holders’ superannuation funds are to be taxed at 65 per cent from July 1, up from 38 per cent.
In January 2013, a price rise for the working holiday visa discouraged many overseas travellers from working in Australia through the working holiday visa.
Backpacker numbers have increased over the past five years, but the average length of stay has decreased. Many backpackers are now only visiting Australia for a brief period and working in other countries, particularly New Zealand, South Africa and Canada.
A tax on all income earned on working holiday visas will likely discourage backpackers looking to work during their stay in Australia, causing average backpacker visitor nights to decline over the next five years.
Overseas backpackers are the primary users of hostels in both urban and rural areas.
As a result, the decline in backpacker visitor nights is expected to hurt demand for hostel operators, particularly those located in rural areas that rely on backpackers working in agricultural industries.
The bill is likely to affect several agricultural industries over the next five years. Many fruit and vegetable growing farms rely on cheap labour sourced from overseas backpackers, particularly as many backpackers work on agricultural farms to stay in Australia for an additional year.
Nathan Cloutman
Senior industry analyst
IBISWorld
Get in quick
MANAGERS of Crown reserves can now apply for funding under the NSW government’s $15 million Public Reserves Management Fund Program.
The funding is available for any activity that supports the maintenance and improvement of Crown reserves.
Crown reserves include local parks, community halls, regional showgrounds and holiday parks.
Funding is available to support a wide range of activities which maintain, protect and improve our Crown reserves for the benefit of communities well into the future.
This can include repairs and maintenance, pest and weed control, new recreational infrastructure and environmental initiatives.
Applications close March 24.
Visit http://www.crownland.nsw.gov.au/crown_lands/crown_reserves/funding/PRMFP for more information.
Adrian Piccoli
Member for Murray
