Consultation
Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) Reform living-away-from-home benefits
Name
Mr Kevin Olson
Organisation
Email
kwolson1@yahoo.ca
Are you submitting on behalf of your Company
No
Do you want your submission to be confidential
No
Accessibility Statement
Yes
Submission files
Support files
Submission text
I understand the government's ability to change the legislation and the reasons for doing it. The budget publications, consultations and general handling of the changes regarding LAFHA to temporary residents (457 visa holders) has been attrocious and extremely poorly handled. I don't think you will find many temporary residents receiving LAFHA that don't understand or accept that the rules are changing, but the lack of a proper transition period that properly allows for people to adjust to a 20% net pay cut where the costs of living are so high is absolutely, 100% unfair. If you want temporary residents to leave and that is the government policy then make that part of the announcement as well. To talk about "skills shortage" and the need for temporary workers while absolutely sabotaging the lives of thousands of temporary residents already here is just wrong. All temporary resident, LAFHA recipients are asking for is a proper transition period from July 1st, 2012 to allow for folks to make the proper adjustments to their lives. 6 weeks is not a proper transition time and the November announcement was worded such that employers would not be willing to re-negotiate anything until the consultation period was over. It is also flat out lying to constantly refer to LAFHA recipients as "executives" who abuse the system for 90% tax free salaries. I don't know where that comes from, and maybe there are cases, but that is FAR from the norm. The majority of temporary residents have been utilizing the LAFHA within the accepted rules, so don't twist it to make us sound like criminals now just for some budget savings. Australia is a great country, but this legislation change has been handled in an underhanded, unfair and immoral way.