To whom it may concern
I'm writing in response to the poorly implemented and communicated laws that the government are trying to enforce in a ridiculously short time frame, since the recent budget announcement last week.
I  totally understand and agree that the goverment need to recoup money from this tax relief, which I undertand has been 'abused' over the years.....
If this law were:
Enforced over a period of time (like it is for Australian citizens !)...or 
Means tested for those that have had it for a substantial number of years and 'phase' it out for those people that are still adjusting to the costs of the country (schools, medical care, cars (!!!!!), house rental prices (!!!), then I could then understand and support this.   
 
However, it seems blatant discrimination to a large number of people who:
1) Cannot vote
2) Are here to support and generate the economy of the country - both by the skills they provide and the money we spend
 
From my personal point of view, I came to this country in January with my wife and two children and a large part of the carrot to work here was the beneficial tax payments that were on offer as part of the salary.
This has now been savagely removed from under our feet in a ridiculously short timeframe so that employers cannot react to the decision (as it's still not clear) and that families cannot react to their own personal budget restrictions either.
With the high number of costs that are required to be initally spent - e.g. rent bonds, rent, medical care, school fees, cars, subsidising a second home in the UK (things not covered by companies), there isn't that much spare.  Now with the LAFHA payment being potentially removed, I'm in the situation where my rental payment is half of my 'new' salary.
 
In summary, this is a poorly thought through and discriminatory piece of legislation.
There is little or no consideration for people who have recently (or even worse still) in the process of moving here to the country.
The argumnet that companies need to make up the short fall is untrue as well, (as many companies are as confused as employees are).
 
There are a number of sensible options that should/could be undertaken - 
1) Means test the LAFHA, i.e. 
Anyone that has had it for over 4 years - remove immediately (or on July 1st) and offer PR straight away
Anyone that has had it for between 2 and 4 years - remove in 6 months and offer PR straight away
Anyone under two years or moving to the country under 457 before 1st July - have the same time period as Australians and it finishes is June 2014 (or even 2013 - is that too much to ask ??!!)
 
2) If you remove LAFHA & tax us as a resident, we should be entitled to claim benefits (Medicare, Childcare, Scrap $4500 School Fees, etc). 

3) Allow those on 457 the opportunity to apply for PR from 1 July 2012, regardless if how long we have been in the country and(or) worked for the sponsoring company. 

One final thought, has the goverment considered the implications of this:
- Large droves of foreign skilled employees will leave Australia from 1st July - reducing the skill base of companies, and the ability for companies to meet the growing demands of the world economy, so long term Australian companies will suffer
- Companies will find it hard to entice people to Australia to work here from 1st July
 
I'm happy to discuss this with anyone that is willing to listen.
However, as the feedback from companies hasn't been disclosed, I will not hold my breath.
 
So please, do the right thing and reconsider this poorly thought through piece of legislation.
 
Yours faithfully
Gerard Eivors
0423100792