Scrap negative gearing

 

The World Today on ABC local radio, had a story today about the severe shortage of rental properties in capital cities. The report said that in Sydney, it’s not uncommon to have 50 people inspect one rental property and for some people to pay up to a year in advance to secure the property. The report also said it’s not uncommon for people to offer $40 above the asking weekly rental rate, to beat others to it.

With house prices at all time high levels, more people, than ever being squeezed out of the housing market, housing construction not being able to keep up with demand and a shortage of rental properties, then surely it’s time for the government to review or even abolish negative gearing.

The defence of subsidising people to invest money in property is that it saves the government from having to provide more public housing - not that many people on the public housing list are going to afford an apartment in Docklands.

However that rental properties are in such short supply shows that this money is being wasted. Interesting how people are offended that their tax dollars could be spent on compensation for Aborigines or a rail link in the western suburbs, but have no qualms about it being used to help enhance the wealth of baby boomers.

We shouldn’t be giving tax breaks to people making a killing from the rental market.

Scrapping negative gearing, or limiting it to people who lease out housing at the more affordable end of the market, would be incredibly politically unpopular, but it’s time the government looked at reforming the main reason for Australia’s housing crisis and is contributing to high inflation. 

Your taxes in the toilet

At first this seems like a great idea. The National Public Toilet Map, a website from the Department of Health and Ageing which, according to the website, ”Shows the location of more than 14,000 public and private public toilet facilities across Australia. Useful information is provided about each toilet, such as location, opening hours, availability of baby change rooms, accessibility for people with disabilities and the details of other nearby toilets”.

I guess there are people with health conditions who’d want to know that if they were going somewhere there was a place they could go when nature calls. The piece of mind on its own would be beneficial.

But for most of us, planning a trip on the internet usually means checking Google Maps or Whereis, or the public transport websites. Knowing which piss crusted, bronzed walled, heroin shooting gallery to relieve oneself isn’t a major priority.

However sometimes you’re caught short. Last night’s Chile Con Carne has sounded a major bowel-evacuation alert, your sphincter is working harder than the Oursome Foursome at the Seoul Olympics and you’re in the middle of the street trying not to disgrace yourself - this is where the world wide web has its fucking limitations!

There is a National Public Toilet Map telephone helpline, but it’s only to help you use the website. This is a shame, imagine the conversation if you could call for directions to the nearest dunny:

Recorded message: Hello and welcome to the National Public Toilet Hotline, to help us best assist you with your call please select …

You: Oh fuck! Come Oooooooon!

Recorded message: If you need assistance with the National Public Toilet Map, press 1 now. If you need our interpreter service, press 2 now, if you have a hearing or speech impediment, press 3 now …

You: I’ll have more than speech impediment soon you fuckin’ bastard, hurry!

Recorded message: If you’re dying for a shit, want to empty a colostomy bag or change a baby’s (or your) nappy and want to know where you nearest public toilet is, press 4 now.

You: Oh thank fuck!

Recorded message: Thank you, our customer service representatives are taking other calls and will be with you in FIVE minutes.

You:Faaaaaaaaaaark!

5 minutes later

Operator: Hello Nat …

You: Oh fuck thank god. I need a toilet otherwise I’m going to spray paint the nearest fucking doorway in a shade of brown not seen since 19 seventy fucking six.

Operator: That’s fine sir. Where are you?

You: Hunched over like a fucking spinal patient in the fuckin’ main street of Coburg.

Operator: Coburg? Which state is that?

You can see the problem here can’t you. What would be great is a mobile internet version of the map so you can pull the Motorola out, find your nearest shitter and even play Tetris to pass the time, and take your mind off the snot smeared across the back of the toilet door.

Alternatively, you can take all the worry out all together and just find the nearest pub, use the toilet, and then sit down and buy a beer out of courtesy.

Governments don’t know shit about buying stuff

Why are governments so stupid when it comes to acquisitions? How hard is it to by an anti-submarine helicopter or a public transport smart card system? OK, so they’re a complex bit of kit, but it’s not like we’ll be the first to use them. So why don’t they just copy somene else?

Last year we had a new driveway laid. The first thing I did was ask friends who had concreting done if they would recommend their concreter. I also asked my brother in law, who works at a readymix concrete place, if he could recommend good concreters. Armed with several names I asked for quotes and made my choice based on which tradesman I felt most comfortable with, while being reasonably priced (but by no means the cheapest). The project was on time and on budget.

However, if my household was the Victorian or Australian Government I would have: