Consultation
Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) Reform living-away-from-home benefits
Name
Mr Michael Shelly
Organisation
Citigroup
Email
michael.shelly@citi.com
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
To whom it may concern, 

As a temporary visa holder (i.e. a non-citizen), I am not entitled to a voice/vote regarding the Australian authorities? reformation of the Living Away From Home Allowance. I will say however, implementing such a significant change without a transition period for temporary visa holders will put many families in very difficult positions (e.g. locked into 1-2 year leases with their effective rent increasing dramatically). While it may not be life threatening for most families, it seems an unnecessarily harsh position for the government to take. I understand that the prospect of change has been on the table since late last year, but there was absolutely no clarity as to its ultimate form. Now that there is clarity, why not allow families a transition period to adjust accordingly? Why punish hard working/tax paying families? LAFHA was a critical consideration in determining where to live and it seems rather sensible to allow families some time to make alternate arrangements now that it is no longer available. Please consider allowing temporary visa holders the same transition period afforded permanent residents. 

Regards, 
Michael Shelly