What do you think of the theory that the GST exemption on health and education has been beneficial for private providers of both? E.g. private schools are at a competitive advantage to public schools because their privately provided service gets an effective public subsidy by not having to pay the GST (in addition to the other public assistance they get of course).
I tend to think that this all washes out. These services get a lot of public funding, and I imagine that if GST were collected, they would get it back somehow
GST tends to capture lower income who cannot evade spending. Other measures that would benefit the economy and environment: 1. Introduce a tax to cover externalities; 2. Introduce Tradable Energy Quotas; 3. Luxury Tax.
"For the most part the government would be taxing itself. "
This is a bit silly - obviously for government-to-government education and healthcare transactions it'd net out, but the specific people who'd be caught by it are the posh ones who opt out of the government system so their kids get to play rugby alongside squatterarchs and their parents can jump the queue for hip surgery.
You should be more polite, and I will resist the temptation of tu quoque
As regards health, the government strongly encourages private insurance (aka opting out) with both subsidies for those who do and tax penalties for those who don't. Imposing GST would undercut this.
I already anticipated your point regarding schools - reread the comment you are responding to.
What do you think of the theory that the GST exemption on health and education has been beneficial for private providers of both? E.g. private schools are at a competitive advantage to public schools because their privately provided service gets an effective public subsidy by not having to pay the GST (in addition to the other public assistance they get of course).
I tend to think that this all washes out. These services get a lot of public funding, and I imagine that if GST were collected, they would get it back somehow
Very disappointing from Pocock, who I had hoped for better from.
GST tends to capture lower income who cannot evade spending. Other measures that would benefit the economy and environment: 1. Introduce a tax to cover externalities; 2. Introduce Tradable Energy Quotas; 3. Luxury Tax.
"For the most part the government would be taxing itself. "
This is a bit silly - obviously for government-to-government education and healthcare transactions it'd net out, but the specific people who'd be caught by it are the posh ones who opt out of the government system so their kids get to play rugby alongside squatterarchs and their parents can jump the queue for hip surgery.
You should be more polite, and I will resist the temptation of tu quoque
As regards health, the government strongly encourages private insurance (aka opting out) with both subsidies for those who do and tax penalties for those who don't. Imposing GST would undercut this.
I already anticipated your point regarding schools - reread the comment you are responding to.