Tonight’s Budget Set To Put Tax Knife Into Media Companies & Online Shoppers
Clearly both sides of politics know there’s a vote in it and tonight’s budget looks set to clamp down on big multinationals – many of them large media companies – who are reportedly siphoning swags of cash tax-free out of Australia.
The GST will also reportedly be extended to online shopping purchases from overseas, adding 10 per cent to the cost to purchases and downloads and significantly adding to government coffers.
The new online tax – which has already curried a favourable response from local retailers – has been nicknamed the ‘Netflix tax’ after the online video streamer said it had structured its US-based business so its Australian customers would avoid paying the GST.
Other online retailers such as Airbnb, Uber and some Google products are expected to feel the government’s tax wrath. However, it should be noted that Apple’s iTunes and Google’s Play Store already attract the GST.
Yesterday, the treasurer, Joe Hockey, announced the changes that will be announced in tonight’s Budget. Hockey said the changes were designed to “create a level playing field” and would generate an estimated extra $350 million for the nation’s kitty.
Both sides of politics clearly know they’re on a vote winner by taking a hard line on supposed tax dodgers; the Labor Party recently launching an outdoor campaign spruiking comments from leader Bill Shorten that said, “Our tax policy will make multinationals pay their fair share.”
Netflix – which launched in Australia in late March – has thus far been able to undercut its local SVOD rivals Stan and Presto who’ve had to charge customers the goods and services tax. Despite initially bragging about not having to pay the local taxes, a spokesperson for Netflix in Australia said the video streamer would comply to the changes set to be announced tonight.
The free-to-air stations have also rightly complained about Netflix’s unfair advantage when they’ve been saddled with huge license fees plus the cost of producing local content required under the license agreements.
Agency icon and chairman of the free-to-air lobby group Free TV Australia, Harold Mitchell, had nothing but effusive praise for the treaurer’s decision. “I applaud what the treasurer is doing to haul Netlfix back into line to give Australian media a level playing field. The treasurer deserves every credit for this,” Mitchell was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, the federal government will also clamp down on 30 multinational companies – including media behemoths Google, Apple, News Corp and Microsoft – it accuses of avoiding tax in Australia.
Hockey has not named any organisations inparticular but said “it was pretty evident which companies are involved”. In early April, the Australian CEO’s of Apple, News and Microsoft appeared before a senate enquiry into tax avoidance; allegations those fronting the enquiry vehemently denied.
Although what Hockey will actually announce remains unclear (save for tightening “part 4A of the Tax Act”) but yesterday he went on record as saying it would target billions of dollars spent by Aussies on product and downloads here in Australia that is subsequently shifted overseas.
In yesterday’s pre-Budget media conference, Hockey said: “Obviously they have not been paying their fair share of tax in Australia, in fact they have been paying no tax in Australia. Only by being embedded in their businesses have we been able to work out their business model.”
He added that the government wanted to “ensure that the suppliers of digital products and services into Australia charge the GST on those products”.
The new measures to be outlined tonight are said to include new laws to recoup unpaid taxes, plus fines of as much as 100 per cent on unpaid taxes.
Labor, however, yesterday called the treasurer’s plans an “uncosted thought-bubble”.
Please login with linkedin to comment
Advertising Standards Bureau colmar brunton oglivy Sebastian RennieLatest News
The Mars Agency Announces Latest Findings Of Retail Media Report Card
The Mars Agency has developed a scorecard that assesses the capabilities of leading platforms across key criteria required to optimally plan, execute, and measure effective retail media programs. The scorecard aims To help brands efficiently evaluate their spending options across retail media networks in Australia (and New Zealand). With spending on retail media advertising in […]
‘It’s The Lesser Of Two Evils’ – NRL Eyes US Betting Market As Aussie Regulators Circle
US betting firms will be delighted by the circa 50,000 Americans who could soon watch the NRL on their favourite app.
A-League In Deep Discussions With New Partner To Keep Games On TV After Production Company Enters Administration
The A-League's insatiable appetite for scoring own goals continues.
TV Ratings (27/03/2024): Jungle Members At War Over Concealed Lipstick
A heated argument between two jungle members did the numbers for Ten last night, with I’m A Celeb obtaining a total national reach of 1,282,000. Fans were delighted as Candice Warner and influencer Skye Wheatley got into it over a stick of lipstick, leading Warner to dub the Instagram star “selfish.” Wheatley, best known for […]
Is The Australian Music Industry In Trouble? Inquiry Launched Following Splendour Cancellation
Earlier this week, an inquiry was launched into the challenges and opportunities currently facing the Australian live music industry in the wake of multiple festival cancellations. On 25 March 2024, the Minister for the Arts, the Hon. Tony Burke MP, asked the Committee on Communications and the Arts to inquire into and report on the […]
Liana Dubois, Leandro Perez, Aimee Buchanan & More Gather For Inaugural Compadres Leadership Event
Didn't get the invite? Perhaps you're not as important as you thought.
Cathay Captures The Unforgettable Thrill Of Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Rugby Sevens, Via Publicis
Nobody does rugby like Hong Kong, apparently. Certainly nobody does it as badly as Australia.
Cocogun Nabs Christine Watts, Kirsty Reynolds & Shev Tan Bolstering Management & Creative Teams
Cocogun bolsters its team with new hires. Committed to purchasing a bigger sofa, too.
The Media Store’s Jacquie Alley & Sam Cousins Take The Plunge With Pro-Bono Work For Cure Cancer
B&T chats with The Media Store bosses about their great pro-bono work and sponsored swim.
Hawke’s Brewing Co. Taps Rocket Comms For PR Agency Following Competitive Pitch
We're expecting Rocket Comms productivity to crash in spectacular fashion following this win.
Spotlight On Sponsors: Patties Serves Up A Taste Of Home For Olympians & South Sydney Rabbitohs Recommit To Gambling Reform
While the Rabbitohs commits to gambling reform, B&T reckons the team should commit to a decent auto sponsor.
Google: “Inevitable” That Bad Actors Will Abuse Ads Platform As Advertiser Account Suspensions Double
Google maintains it's simply impossible for it to entirely stop bad people placing & paying for ads using its service.
Quantcast Expands APAC Sales Team With Appointment Of News Corp Account Manager
No pressure at all when you are appointed as a client success manager.
Publicis Sapient Tests Microsoft-Powered Gen AI Search Tool With Homes & Villas By Marriott Bonvoy
Given Gen AI's record for mangling stuff, B&T cannot see the problem with letting it decide your next holiday digs.
Volkswagen & DDB Group’s “Roo Badge” To Reduce Kangaroo Related Road Collisions
Watch out for RooBadge as Cannes Lions' most debated campaign this year.
Twilio Launches Unified Profiles & Agent Copilot Features To Boost Productivity & Engagement
Agent Copilot sounds like James Bond's less interesting cousin.
Reebok & Honda Among New Clients For onetwo agency
OneTwo finally lives up to its name with this double billing.
Ogilvy Report: Throw Out The Social Strategy Rule Book, The Rules Of The Past No Longer Apply
B&T was puzzled that all 'influencers' aren't, effectively, 'virtual', but here we are.
WhiteGREY & AKQA Merge In Australia, Lee Simpson Departs
Fortunately, the combined agencies aren't opting for a trite portmanteau for the new name.
Splendour In The Grass 2024 Music Festival Cancelled!
Music fans all over the country reportedly relieved they can pack away their rain coats and gumboots for another year.
TV Ratings (26/03/2024): “Fairy Bread, F***ing Disgusting”: Gordon Ramsay Slams Aussie Food In Food Stars Launch
Ramsay not one for mincing his words, even when it comes to minced meat pies.
Paramount+ International Boss Doubles Down On Aussie Content, Says Ad-Tier will Grow Audiences And Revenue
Good news as Paramount will not be binning I’m A Celebrity for re-runs of Frasier.
Brent Smart: Telstra Pushing For 50-50 Brand-Performance Split But Warns Numbers ‘Won’t Look Great’ Initially
The old brand vs performance debate continues. But here, Brent is firmly sitting on the fence.
Crowded House, Tones And I & Dom Dolla Win Big At The Shure Rolling Stone Music Awards
B&T staffer reports back with humdinger of a hangover & feeling seriously uncool after mixing with music types.
Opinion: Dyslexia “A Hidden Gem” For Brands & Agencies
Dyslexics offer underappreciated benefits in the corporate field, according to this op-ed.
David Jones Taps Criteo To Power Online Retail Media Arm
Want to see ads for things you probably can't afford? David Jones has got you covered with new retail media play.
oOh!media Sets Up Team To Target Business Audiences Across Airports & Offices
oOh! wants brands to harass you every minute of your next business trip.
QMS Launches Australian First DOOH & TV Partnership With Samba TV
Samba TV, of course, is not a channel dedicated to dancing. Much to our dismany.
Slew Of New Hires At Amplify
Four new faces join the Amplify offices. Team say desk scarcity becoming "acute".
Adobe Announces Content Authenticity Initiative Expansions To Counter Deep Fakes
Try as they might to enlighten them, we suspect Trump supporters will continue to watch and believe Fox News.
The PR Group Appoints TechCrunch Senior Reporter Catherine Shu As Director Of Content & Media
Catherine Shu makes the bold leap from journalism to PR. Says inevitable pay bump was "unrelated".
HERO Nabs Ebony Santin From AMPR
Rumours Santin cleared out the stationery cupboard before departing are as yet unconfirmed.
Karena Noble Checks Out Of EVT Hotels & Resorts To Launch Comms Consultancy
Noble still managed to squeezed in a continental breakfast before departing.
Canva Acquires Design Platform Affinity To Bring Professional Design Tools To Every Organisation
Canva & Adobe face off continues. We're not picking sides but keenly aware that Canva's office is next door to ours.
“Lean On Our Team To Help You Find An Audience”: Why Understanding Audience Engagement Is Essential In Journalism
Engaging the audience is critical to journos, apparently. We'd thought self-loathing & alcoholism were key.
Adobe Summit: Major Gen AI Developments, Data Concessions & Partnerships
What happens in Vegas stays there. Unless it's the Adobe Summit and then you get to read about in B&T.