This was not always my view. Like most people I examined where I could minimize my tax – where there were offsets to be gained through education, membership of professional bodies, charity donations, equipment, including computer hardwater/software/paper etc. I also had shares and a rental property so used negative gearing and imputation credits. It all seemed to be what was expected.

But…. I had two epiphanies.

There are so many aspects of tax we should actively lobby to change. A start would be to go back to the Henry Review where more tax is balanced with less tax, and reduced or more tax offsets. Some considerations could be:

Changing attitudes and mindsets is hard. Years of political pressure has influenced our behaviour from when people paid 90% of their income to assist the WW2 effort, to where people laugh and gloat about paying no, or minimal, tax. But there is hope as young people and those on low incomes complain about lack of adequate government-provided free services, such as childcare, community housing, public education, community health and aged care, etc. This is due to Australia not raising enough taxes – we are the second lowest taxing country in the OECD. So, with the right lobbying to those demanding the Government provide better services, who may well vote for Greens or Independents as a result, this will force Government action.

The challenge is to encourage, as ATO says. “willing participation in our tax and superannuation systems”. The change required is to a positive one in which people see value in contributing to society. As George Bernard Shaw says in “Man and Superman”:

This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognised by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work. the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no “brief candle” to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.”

As we work and lobby to improve the situation for our fellow humans and our planet, we need to bring pride as well as joy to our work. Our cause is indeed a mighty one. May our torches burn splendidly before we hand them on to future generations.