Budget 2017: banking sector blitz brings opportunity
Few people understand how the sharemarket responds to Budget announces quite like leading commentator Marcus Padley. And while the banks are copping a bashing, Marcus suggests we’re not blind to the opportunity.
New Budget measures could help older Australians stay at home longer
Along with our ageing population comes the need for improved aged care services. With this in mind, the Government has given a funding boost to services for older Australians.
Treasurer concedes no customer protection from bank levy costs being passed on
After landing a bank levy bombshell in Tuesday’s Budget, Treasurer Scott Morrison has admitted that there is little that can be done to stop the banks passing the tax on to customers.
Shorten’s Budget 2017 reply ramps up the fairness fight
A fairness fight has broken out, post-Budget 2017, with Opposition Leader Bill Shorten declaring the Turnbull Budget ‘fails miserably to emulate Labor policies’.
Big banks threaten to pass on 'surprise tax' costs to customers
There’s speculation that customers will bear the cost of the Government’s 0.6 per cent tax on Australia’s big banks, with the banks threatening to band together to fight the measure.
Budget 2017: a missed NDIS funding opportunity
Funding of the NDIS is definitely good news, but let us not gloss over the missed opportunity to boost the funding of the NDIS over the next two years.
Budget 2017: Age Pension residence requirement to increase
Residency requirements for those looking to make a claim for the Age Pension or Disability Support Pension will increase.
Budget 2017: pension age increase remains on the table
A raft of old Budget measures that failed to pass the Senate have finally been culled, at a cost of $13.9 billion – but it's the one that wasn’t we should be worried about.
Budget 2017: Age Pension portability changes scrapped
Announced in Budget 2015/16, the change to Age Pension portability has been scrapped as part of the overall dump of measures that have failed to pass through the Senate.
Budget 2017: good news for pensioners
The January 2017 rebalancing on the asset thresholds saw 92,000 pensioners lose their Age Pension and, as a result, their Pension Concession Card (PCC).
Scheme to encourage older Australians to downsize
Part of Scott Morrison’s housing affordability plan offers incentives for retirees to downsize. But seller beware.