Stephen Batten

Father of 2, husband, small business owner, snow skier and long suffering Carlton Blues supporter.

[Stephen Batten @STB642]

@cjoye So the best investment vehicles going forward will be the family home or in superannuation fund. That’s a fantastic way of solving Australia’s productivity problem.

[christopher joye @cjoye]

The single biggest winner from the budget: the tax-free owner-occupied home, which is where people will put their money. After the budget doubles the capital gains tax on productive businesses/assets from circa 23.5% to 46-47%, investors will understandably pull money from businesses, shares, commercial property and rental housing and plough it into their tax-free owner-occupied home. It's a great way to push up the prices of these houses. On the other hand, cutting negative gearing while also doubling CGT makes investing in rental properties extremely unattractive. It hammers the capital gain upside on any asset: shares, commercial property, the small or medium sized business you built, venture capital and private equity. It will give Australia the most unattractive capital gains tax in the WORLD (see table below)! So the government's policies will (1) push up owner-occupied house prices, (2) push up rents, and (3) reduce the capital available for investing in any small, medium or large sized business that is driving employment, innovation, growth and productivity/prosperity. Investors will go to other countries where they pay half the capital gains tax, or less. Since these pollies have never worked a day of their lives in the private sector, it is no surprise that when they decide to completely and unilaterally rewrite the entire tax system for all investors and businesses -- after promising before the last election more than 50 times NOT to change the capital gains tax and negative gearing rules -- that they would blow the entire Aussie economy up... Your best bet will be to buy a house, live in it, and hope they keep dropping 500,000 new people into the country every year to pump-up prices...

[Stephen Batten @STB642]

@GeoffWilsonWAM @ausgov Absolutely agree. Worst is that it severely limits my children’s ability to grow wealth and make themselves self funding and not dependent upon government.

[Stephen Batten @STB642]

@PaulBongiorno Disagree Paul.
1. antisemitism is an Australia-wide problem eg bombing in Melbourne
2. Many of the causes and solutions will involve federal departments and laws. A state government has no control over these; and
3. You are simplistic: internal reviews give the desired answer

[Sussan Ley @sussanley]

The Prime Minister is supposed to represent Australians.

Instead, he is ignoring them.

When former Governors-General, Reserve Bank governors, business leaders, security professionals, judges, community leaders and members of his own side of politics are all calling for a Commonwealth Royal Commission, the problem is not the case for action.

The problem is the Prime Minister.

Australians deserve honesty.
They deserve leadership.
They deserve answers through a Commonwealth Royal Commission.

[Stephen Batten @STB642]

I cannot believe that we have such a stubborn “Yes Minister” PM who is happy to ignore business, legal, political, and international support for a royal commission (oh plus of course the Christian leaders and Jewish communities).

Albo - the Great Listener (Not)

[Josh Frydenberg @JoshFrydenberg]

Powerful statement today from more than 130 business leaders who said in the wake of the Bondi massacre:

‘We call on the Australian Government to immediately establish a Commonwealth Royal Commission as a first step towards taking Australia forward with a meaningful, practical plan of action.’

‘As business leaders and proud Australians committed to upholding our values of tolerance and mutual respect, we recognise the need for clear answers as to how the Bondi massacre could occur, and for practical solutions to restore social cohesion and protect the safety of all Australians. We must end the unprecedented harassment, intimidation and violence directed at the Australian Jewish community since October 7, 2023.’

‘This is a national crisis, which requires a national response. This goes beyond politics, it’s about the future of our country.’

Momentum for a Commonwealth Royal Commission continues to build every day, with more voices joining the call from right across the country.

It’s time for the Prime Minister to listen and act and call a Royal Commission now.

[Stephen Batten @STB642]

@AlboMP Our true character has changed. It used to revolve around mateship and helping each other whilst having a bit of a lend. Now you aren’t willing to listen to the Australian people.

Are you taking lessons from Trump?

[Stephen Batten @STB642]

@PaulBongiorno There maybe, but not all or even the majority. I don’t vote for Albo and my vote won’t change based on this. But we do know that we have seen systemic antisemitism across Australia, in our universities, our media (and I would especially call out the ABC).

[Stephen Batten @STB642]

@AlboMP But you are NOT doing everything. Why not a Royal Commission into antisemitism. Your internal “Yes Minister” review can still go ahead. Its recommendations can be implemented and provided to an RC.

If you did this, you would be seen to be actually working for us, the people!

[Josh Frydenberg @JoshFrydenberg]

🎯

[Stephen Batten @STB642]

@AlboMP are you antisemitic as you seem to be ignoring this section of the population.

Remember - you work for the people. The people do not work for you.

[Stephen Batten @STB642]

@Mon4Kooyong Absolutely, however a little perspective goes a long way - rolling 4 year average of 47 deaths per year - yes 47, not 470, 4700 etc. Victoria records approx 48,000 deaths pa so this pressing issue is 0.01% of the annual deaths.

Any other earth shattering issues?

[Stephen Batten @STB642]

@AlboMP Sorry, but your logic for not holding a Federal Royal Commission is wrong, if you support (which you do) a State based one.
It makes me wonder are you stubborn or hiding something?

[Stephen Batten @STB642]

@SenatorWong How about the gift of a Royal Commission into antisemitism, Bondi, fire bombings in Sydney and Melbourne. This is not just a NSW issue. What are you scared of?

[Stephen Batten @STB642]

@AlboMP What are you hiding? That can only be the reason you do not hold a royal commission. What are you scared it will find?

Step up and be a leader!

[Stephen Batten @STB642]

Why no Royal Commission into Antisemitism @AlboMP ? This is not just a NSW issue or are you not aware of the fire bombings in Victoria. Do Victorian Jews mean nothing?

What are you hiding?
#Antisemitism #RoyalCommissionNOW

[Australian Jewish Association @AustralianJA]

Bondi.

The lights of the Chanukah menorah burn bright as the sirens speed by.

They will never beat us

[Australian Jewish Association @AustralianJA]

DOESN'T EVEN MENTION THAT IT WAS A JEWISH EVENT

What a shameful disgrace!

PM Albanese avoids even mentioning that it was the Jewish community targetted and Jews shot.

[Australian Jewish Association @AustralianJA]

Statement from Australian Jewish Association CEO Robert Gregory:

"What happened tonight is a tragedy but entirely foreseeable.

The Albanese government was warned so many times but failed to take adequate actions to protect the Jewish community.

Tonight, many Jews are pondering whether they have a future in Australia.

Our thoughts are with our community and all the impacted, some of whom we are close to."

[Stephen Batten @STB642]

@profholden @FinancialReview Interesting article, but one aspect that I rarely seen discussed is the impact on franking credits. At the moment, a tax rate of 30% provides significant tax credits in personal tax returns and superfunds. Reducing the corporate tax rate will reduce these franking rebates.