News

Is tax policy contributing to wealth inequality?

Published

2 years ago

September 6, 2023

Australian Labor Party MP Mike Freelander has called on the Albanese government to display courage in advocating for challenging tax reforms.

He voiced concerns that Australia could become more Americanized and less successful if current tax policies persist, as reported in the Australian Financial Review.

Freelander’s comments came after the release of a report by the St Vincent de Paul Society recommending the removal of stage three tax cuts.

Freelander acknowledged that he personally benefited from the existing taxation system but emphasised that his children are now paying the price.

He stressed the need for measured actions that would enable younger generations to enjoy a similar quality of life.

Progressive reforms

The report, authored by economists from the Australian National University, proposed several reforms, including a moderate increase in capital gains tax, a progressive superannuation taxation system based on income, and a raise in the tax-free threshold from $18,200 to $24,000.

These changes were put forth as a means to lift over 830,000 Australians out of poverty, primarily through increased welfare support for low-income households, single parents, and individuals with disabilities.

Freelander refrained from specifying which aspects of the report he supported, as he feared political weaponization.

Freelander believed that initiating discussions on these reforms now and gradually garnering support for necessary changes was essential. He emphasised that Australia’s egalitarian values should not be compromised by growing wealth inequality. If left unchecked, the country could transform into a more Americanized and less successful society.

While Freelander spoke out on this issue, other politicians, including Labor MP Alicia Payne and several present during the report’s launch, chose not to comment on the recommendations.

The Intergenerational Report from the previous month had highlighted that, under current settings, workers would face an increasing share of the tax burden over the next four decades.

St Vincent de Paul’s national president, Mark Gaetani, responded to Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ call for a tax system debate, emphasising the society’s commitment to engaging in this important conversation.

News

NASA’s Artemis II launch: Argentina joins first crewed moon mission in 50 years

NASA’s Artemis II rocket is ready for its first crewed Moon mission in over 50 years, featuring Argentina’s ATENEA microsatellite.

Published

15 hours ago

January 19, 2026

Harvey Vargas

NASA’s Artemis II rocket is ready for its first crewed Moon mission in over 50 years, featuring Argentina’s ATENEA microsatellite.

NASA’s Artemis II rocket has arrived at Kennedy Space Center, marking the first crewed Moon mission in more than five decades.

The mission will carry a crew of four astronauts on a ten-day journey around the Moon, with a wet dress rehearsal scheduled for February 2 to test all systems.

In a historic moment for Latin America, Argentina’s ATENEA microsatellite will join the Artemis II mission as secondary cargo. Developed through a collaboration of Argentine institutions, ATENEA will collect crucial data on radiation and communications systems in space, making Argentina the only Latin American country contributing to this milestone mission.

The Artemis II mission will also validate life support and spacecraft systems ahead of Artemis III, NASA’s planned crewed lunar landing in 2027. With the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft now on Launch Pad 39B, excitement is building for this next giant leap in space exploration.

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#ArtemisII #MoonMission #NASA #ATENEA #SpaceExploration #ArgentinaInSpace #SLSRocket #OrionSpacecraft

News

Iran warns U.S. retaliation as protest death toll soars — executions feared, nationwide unrest

Iran warns of severe retaliation against U.S. strikes, amid escalating tensions and internal unrest.

Published

16 hours ago

January 19, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Iran warns of severe retaliation against U.S. strikes, amid escalating tensions and internal unrest.

Iran has issued a stark warning of a severe response to any U.S. military strike, with leaders stressing that military action would be treated as an act of war.

President Masoud Pezeshkian cautioned that attacks on strategic sites or leadership figures could trigger retaliation against U.S. and allied forces in the region — including potential targets in Israel and American bases. These warnings come as tensions between Tehran and Washington escalate amid sustained unrest across Iran.

The backdrop for this diplomatic brinkmanship is a bitter standoff between Tehran and the U.S., with U.S. President Donald Trump publicly debating options for intervention and criticising Iran’s leadership.

Tehran, for its part, has blamed external forces for stoking internal dissent and insists it will fiercely defend its sovereignty.

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#IranProtests #IranUSConflict #MiddleEastTensions #HumanRights #IranDeathToll #ProtestCrackdown #GlobalNews

News

EU condemns Trump’s Greenland tariff threats: Trade tensions escalate

Major EU nations criticize Trump’s Greenland tariffs as “blackmail,” risking trade agreements and raising tensions across the Atlantic.

Published

16 hours ago

January 19, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Major EU nations criticize Trump’s Greenland tariffs as “blackmail,” risking trade agreements and raising tensions across the Atlantic.

Major EU nations are pushing back against President Trump’s tariff threats over Greenland, calling them “blackmail” and raising tensions across the Atlantic. Germany and France are reportedly considering economic countermeasures to respond to the U.S. stance.

Trade agreements with the UK and the EU could be at risk, as these threats put key negotiations in jeopardy. The European Parliament is also expected to pause discussions on the EU-U.S. trade deal, signaling a growing rift.

Meanwhile, British officials insist their position on Greenland is non-negotiable, adding complexity to an already tense situation.

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#TrumpTariffs #Greenland #EUTensions #TradeWars #USPolitics #GlobalEconomy #EUTrade #NationalSecurity