Sep 10, 2026 · 1 hr 43 min · 14 segments
In Episode 3 of Pelly’s Podcast, Michael Pell sits down with one of Australia’s leading economists, Stephen Koukoulas. With more than 30 years of experience across government, banking and financial…
There's some subjectivity to it, could I say, because some other equally as intelligent and preeminent economists like would disagree with you on some things, wouldn't they? It happens every day.
There is a case... for putting it higher, broadening the base so it captures a whole lot more and raises a truckload of revenue if you do that.
Some people say, well, that's unfair because lower income people pay more for their bread and all this other stuff and they get slugged harder.
Whereas other people say, well, you're going to raise so much money you can compensate people like the aged pensioner.
You can lift the tax-free threshold from $18,200 before you start paying income tax.
So really low-income earners who work part-time, just earn a few bucks, they don't pay any income tax, which is, Fantastic.
And that 16% tax bracket from $18,000 to $50,000, whatever that is, I can't remember what it is, drop that to 5%.
There's some subjectivity to it, could I say, because some other equally as intelligent and preeminent economists like would disagree with you on some things, wouldn't they? It happens every day.
There is a case... for putting it higher, broadening the base so it captures a whole lot more and raises a truckload of revenue if you do that.
Some people say, well, that's unfair because lower income people pay more for their bread and all this other stuff and they get slugged harder.
Whereas other people say, well, you're going to raise so much money you can compensate people like the aged pensioner.
You can lift the tax-free threshold from $18,200 before you start paying income tax.
So really low-income earners who work part-time, just earn a few bucks, they don't pay any income tax, which is, Fantastic.
And that 16% tax bracket from $18,000 to $50,000, whatever that is, I can't remember what it is, drop that to 5%.
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