新税が世論をまっぷたつ | アップクロース | 英語とお仕事 | The Japan Times ST オンライン

<table> <tr> <td colspan="9"><a href="/top.html"><h2>週刊ＳＴオンライン</h2></a></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="9"><p>英字新聞社ジャパンタイムズによる英語学習サイト。英語のニュース、英語教材、リスニング、英語の発音、ことわざ、などのコンテンツを無料で提供。</p></td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/english_news/english_news.htm"><h4>英語のニュース</h4></a></td> <td><a href="/entertainment/entertainment.htm"><h4>英語とエンタメ</h4></a></td> <td><a href="/pronunciation/pronunciation.htm"><h4>リスニング・発音</h4></a></td> <td><a href="/native_english/native_english.htm"><h4>ことわざ・フレーズ<h4></a></td> <td><a href="/writer/writer.htm"><h4>英語とお仕事</h4></a></td> <td><a href="/kids/kids.htm"><h4>クイズ・パズル</h4></a></td> <td><a href="/study_abroad/study_abroad.htm"><h4>留学・海外生活</h4></a></td> <td><a href="/stories/stories.htm"><h4>留学英語のものがたり</h4></a></td> <td><a href="/toeic/toeic.htm"><h4>会話・検定</h4></a></td> </tr></table> <ul><li><a href="/english_news/english_news.htm">英語のニュース</a><br /><ul> <li><a href="/english_news/news/news.htm">ニュース</a></li> <li><a href="/english_news/editorial/editorial.htm">社説</a></li> <li><a href="/english_news/essay/essay.htm">エッセー</a></li> <li><a href="/english_news/opinion/opinion.htm">オピニオン</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> <h2>このページはフレーム対応ブラウザ用に作成されています。下のリンクは非フレーム使用ページですのでそちらをご覧ください。</h1><br /> <h3><a href="ac19980911main.htm?print=noframe">この記事の脚注を吹き出しにして表示するページへ</a></h3><br /> <h2>この記事をプリントする</h2><br /> <h3><a href="ac19980911main.htm?print=english">英文をプリント</a></h3><br /> <h3><a href="ac19980911main.htm?print=japanese">脚注をプリント</a></h3><br /><br /><br /> <br /><hr size="1" noshade /> <br /><br /><h3>新税が世論をまっぷたつ</h3><br /> <p> オーストラリアのジョン・ハワード首相は先月13日、10パーセントの物品サービス税導入と大型所得減税などを盛り込んだ、大幅な税制改革法案を発表しました。来月3日の総選挙が近づく中、この改革について世論はまっぷたつに分かれ、賛否両論が渦巻いています。 </p><br /> <br /> <h3>Proposed Reforms Tax Australians' Loyalties <br /> By DARREN McLEAN </CENTER> On Aug. 13 Australia's Prime Minister John Howard <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#unve">unveiled</A> his plans for a <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#mass">massive overhaul</A> of the Australian tax system. If the <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#ruli">ruling coalition</A> is successful in the <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#upco">upcoming federal election</A>, the tax reform will mark the biggest change to Australia's tax system in 100 years of federation.<p>The tax reform <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#pack">package</A> is based on the introduction of a 10 percent <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#good">goods and services tax</A> (GST), similar to Japan's <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#cons">consumption tax</A>.<p>To ease the <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#impa">impact</A> of a GST, and <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#lure">lure</A> support for tax reform, the Howard government has offered large <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#ince">incentives</A> to every person, family and small business. These incentives include a range of <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#taxc">tax cuts</A> and increased payments, the most <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#prom">prominent</A> being lower income tax rates.<p>So what will the new tax system mean for the average Australian? Under the new tax plan 80 percent of the Australian <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#work">workforce</A> will pay a maximum tax of 30 cents on the dollar (instead of 43 cents for those earning up to A$50,000 [¥4 million] per year). After the tax cuts and the GST, the average Australian family will <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#bett">be better off</A> by an estimated $50 per week.<p>The elderly will receive a 4 percent <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#pens">pension</A> increase and family and <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#chil">child-care allowances</A> will rise.<p>Those buying their first home will receive $7,000 to soften house price rises. Australian farmers facing tough times with recent <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#drou">droughts</A> and floods will <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#reap">reap</A> large rewards with cuts in transport, fuel and <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#oper">operation</A> costs.<p>One of few new taxes is a "<A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#sint">sin tax</A>." This will be introduced on alcohol and cigarettes, helping to <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#proo">promote</A> a healthier lifestyle. In the same <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#vein">vein</A>, the costs of private health insurance will be cut by one-third.<p>Australian tourism is one industry that will suffer under the new system. Overseas and <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#dome">domestic</A> tourists traveling to Australia's hot spots such as Cairns and the Gold Coast will be hit with the GST. The opposition Labor Party attacked the Howard government on this <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#sens">sensitive</A> issue, <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#bran">branding</A> the GST a "sayonara tourism" tax.<p>One <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#dubi">dubious</A> plan under question is the spending of Australia's $18 billion future <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#budg">budget surpluses</A> to <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#fund">fund</A> the tax cuts. This is seen as very risky business, as the health of Australia's economy relies heavily on future economic action in Asia.<p>Anyone without a <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#busi">business degree</A> would find the new tax plan confusing. For the average Australian it is hard to tell whether tax reform is an <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#elec">electoral tactic</A> or a positive change to improve economic growth and make everyone better off.<p>Two weeks after Mr. Howard's tax reform was released, the Australian Labor Party came out with its own lightweight tax reform. Labor's tax plan strongly opposed the introduction of a GST but claimed the average Australian family would gain an extra $63 per week from <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#taxr">tax credits</A> under its system.<p><A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#Cons">Consequently</A>, a <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#phip">"hip pocket war"</A> <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#hase">has evolved</A>: Which party can put more in Australians' pockets? But in a time when politicians lack the public's confidence nobody seems sure which party has the people's interest.<p>On Aug. 30, the prime minister called for federal elections Oct. 3. <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#Opin">Opinion polls</A> taken immediately after the tax plan was released showed the nation was divided evenly in its support for tax reform. Fifty percent of the population opposed the tax plan indicating a tough road ahead for Prime Minister Howard if he is to be re-elected.<p>Residents of the Gold Coast have mixed feelings on the issue. Jules Dix, 30, lacks confidence in the political leaders, calling the GST plan "a huge government <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#sort">sort</A> to grab more money." Rachelle Moore, 37, believes tax reform is a "<A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#Catc">Catch-22</A>," but Ralph Millikan is more optimistic, calling the tax plan "a better and fairer system."<p>Australia has two <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#alte">alternatives</A> to tax reform: back Labor's <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#conv">conventional</A> approach or <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#jump">jump on Pauline Hanson's One Nation bandwagon</A>.<p>In the <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#lead">lead up to</A> the federal election Australians will <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#be b">be blasted from all angles with</A> political tactics and <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#hard">hard sell campaigns</A>. Through the confusion and uncertainty one thing is sure, however, the people will <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#have">have the final say</A> at the <A HREF="ac19980911chu.htm#poll">polling booths</A>. </h3><br /> <p> On Aug. 13 Australia's Prime Minister John Howard <A HREF="#unve">unveiled</A> his plans for a <A HREF="#mass">massive overhaul</A> of the Australian tax system. If the <A HREF="#ruli">ruling coalition</A> is successful in the <A HREF="#upco">upcoming federal election</A>, the tax reform will mark the biggest change to Australia's tax system in 100 years of federation.<p>The tax reform <A HREF="#pack">package</A> is based on the introduction of a 10 percent <A HREF="#good">goods and services tax</A> (GST), similar to Japan's <A HREF="#cons">consumption tax</A>.<p>To ease the <A HREF="#impa">impact</A> of a GST, and <A HREF="#lure">lure</A> support for tax reform, the Howard government has offered large <A HREF="#ince">incentives</A> to every person, family and small business. These incentives include a range of <A HREF="#taxc">tax cuts</A> and increased payments, the most <A HREF="#prom">prominent</A> being lower income tax rates.<p>So what will the new tax system mean for the average Australian? Under the new tax plan 80 percent of the Australian <A HREF="#work">workforce</A> will pay a maximum tax of 30 cents on the dollar (instead of 43 cents for those earning up to A$50,000 [¥4 million] per year). After the tax cuts and the GST, the average Australian family will <A HREF="#bett">be better off</A> by an estimated $50 per week.<p>The elderly will receive a 4 percent <A HREF="#pens">pension</A> increase and family and <A HREF="#chil">child-care allowances</A> will rise.<p>Those buying their first home will receive $7,000 to soften house price rises. Australian farmers facing tough times with recent <A HREF="#drou">droughts</A> and floods will <A HREF="#reap">reap</A> large rewards with cuts in transport, fuel and <A HREF="#oper">operation</A> costs.<p>One of few new taxes is a "<A HREF="#sint">sin tax</A>." This will be introduced on alcohol and cigarettes, helping to <A HREF="#proo">promote</A> a healthier lifestyle. In the same <A HREF="#vein">vein</A>, the costs of private health insurance will be cut by one-third.<p>Australian tourism is one industry that will suffer under the new system. Overseas and <A HREF="#dome">domestic</A> tourists traveling to Australia's hot spots such as Cairns and the Gold Coast will be hit with the GST. The opposition Labor Party attacked the Howard government on this <A HREF="#sens">sensitive</A> issue, <A HREF="#bran">branding</A> the GST a "sayonara tourism" tax.<p>One <A HREF="#dubi">dubious</A> plan under question is the spending of Australia's $18 billion future <A HREF="#budg">budget surpluses</A> to <A HREF="#fund">fund</A> the tax cuts. This is seen as very risky business, as the health of Australia's economy relies heavily on future economic action in Asia.<p>Anyone without a <A HREF="#busi">business degree</A> would find the new tax plan confusing. For the average Australian it is hard to tell whether tax reform is an <A HREF="#elec">electoral tactic</A> or a positive change to improve economic growth and make everyone better off.<p>Two weeks after Mr. Howard's tax reform was released, the Australian Labor Party came out with its own lightweight tax reform. Labor's tax plan strongly opposed the introduction of a GST but claimed the average Australian family would gain an extra $63 per week from <A HREF="#taxr">tax credits</A> under its system.<p><A HREF="#Cons">Consequently</A>, a <A HREF="#phip">"hip pocket war"</A> <A HREF="#hase">has evolved</A>: Which party can put more in Australians' pockets? But in a time when politicians lack the public's confidence nobody seems sure which party has the people's interest.<p>On Aug. 30, the prime minister called for federal elections Oct. 3. <A HREF="#Opin">Opinion polls</A> taken immediately after the tax plan was released showed the nation was divided evenly in its support for tax reform. Fifty percent of the population opposed the tax plan indicating a tough road ahead for Prime Minister Howard if he is to be re-elected.<p>Residents of the Gold Coast have mixed feelings on the issue. Jules Dix, 30, lacks confidence in the political leaders, calling the GST plan "a huge government <A HREF="#sort">sort</A> to grab more money." Rachelle Moore, 37, believes tax reform is a "<A HREF="#Catc">Catch-22</A>," but Ralph Millikan is more optimistic, calling the tax plan "a better and fairer system."<p>Australia has two <A HREF="#alte">alternatives</A> to tax reform: back Labor's <A HREF="#conv">conventional</A> approach or <A HREF="#jump">jump on Pauline Hanson's One Nation bandwagon</A>.<p>In the <A HREF="#lead">lead up to</A> the federal election Australians will <A HREF="#be b">be blasted from all angles with</A> political tactics and <A HREF="#hard">hard sell campaigns</A>. Through the confusion and uncertainty one thing is sure, however, the people will <A HREF="#have">have the final say</A> at the <A HREF="#poll">polling booths</A>. <P><FONT SIZE=3><B>Shukan ST: Sept. 11, 1998</B></FONT><br /> <FONT SIZE=1>(C) All rights reserved</p><br /> <br /> <p> <DL> <P> <P><DT><A NAME="unve"><B>unveiled</B></A><DD>明らかにした <P><DT><A NAME="mass"><B>massive overhaul</B></A><DD>大幅な改革案 <P><DT><A NAME="ruli"><B>ruling coalition</B></A><DD>連立与党 <P><DT><A NAME="upco"><B>upcoming federal election</B></A><DD>近づく連邦総選挙 <P><DT><A NAME="pack"><B>package</B></A><DD>一括法案 <P><DT><A NAME="good"><B>goods and services tax</B></A><DD>物品サービス税 <P><DT><A NAME="cons"><B>consumption tax</B></A><DD>消費税 <P><DT><A NAME="impa"><B>impact</B></A><DD>衝撃 <P><DT><A NAME="lure"><B>lure</B></A><DD>引きつける <P><DT><A NAME="ince"><B>incentives</B></A><DD>誘因 <P><DT><A NAME="taxc"><B>tax cuts</B></A><DD>減税 <P><DT><A NAME="prom"><B>prominent</B></A><DD>突出した <P><DT><A NAME="work"><B>workforce</B></A><DD>労働人口 <P><DT><A NAME="bett"><B>be better off</B></A><DD>暮らし向きがよくなる <P><DT><A NAME="pens"><B>pension</B></A><DD>年金 <P><DT><A NAME="chil"><B>child-care allowances</B></A><DD>養育手当。 <P><DT><A NAME="drou"><B>droughts</B></A><DD>干ばつ <P><DT><A NAME="reap"><B>reap</B></A><DD>獲得する <P><DT><A NAME="oper"><B>operation</B></A><DD>（農業の）操業 <P><DT><A NAME="sint"><B>sin tax</B></A><DD>罪悪税 <P><DT><A NAME="proo"><B>promote</B></A><DD>促進させる <P><DT><A NAME="vein"><B>vein</B></A><DD>流れ <P><DT><A NAME="dome"><B>domestic</B></A><DD>国内の <P><DT><A NAME="sens"><B>sensitive</B></A><DD>微妙な <P><DT><A NAME="bran"><B>branding</B></A><DD>烙印を押す <P><DT><A NAME="dubi"><B>dubious</B></A><DD>はっきりしない <P><DT><A NAME="budg"><B>budget surpluses</B></A><DD>財政黒字 <P><DT><A NAME="fund"><B>fund <TT> </TT> ～ <TT> </TT></B></A><DD><TT> </TT> ～ <TT> </TT>の財源にする <P><DT><A NAME="busi"><B>business degree</B></A><DD>経営学の学位 <P><DT><A NAME="elec"><B>electoral tactic</B></A><DD>選挙戦術 <P><DT><A NAME="taxr"><B>tax credits</B></A><DD>税額控除 <P><DT><A NAME="Cons"><B>Consequently</B></A><DD>結果として <P><DT><A NAME="phip"><B>"hip pocket war"</B></A><DD>「尻ポケット」戦争 <P><DT><A NAME="hase"><B>has evolved</B></A><DD>展開した <P><DT><A NAME="Opin"><B>Opinion polls</B></A><DD>世論調査 <P><DT><A NAME="sort"><B>sort</B></A><DD>やり方 <P><DT><A NAME="Catc"><B>Catch-22</B></A><DD>行き詰まり状態（1961年出版の Joseph Heller の小説のタイトルにちなむ） <P><DT><A NAME="alte"><B>alternatives</B></A><DD>選択の道 <P><DT><A NAME="conv"><B>conventional</B></A><DD>従来の <P><DT><A NAME="jump"><B>jump on Pauline Hanson's One Nation bandwagon</B></A><DD>（白豪政策を掲げて人気を集める）ポーリン・ハンソン党首のワン・ネーション党の勢いに便乗する <P><DT><A NAME="lead"><B>lead up to <TT> </TT> ～ <TT> </TT></B></A><DD><TT> </TT> ～ <TT> </TT>への選挙運動 <P><DT><A NAME="be b"><B>be blasted from all angles with <TT> </TT> ～ <TT> </TT></B></A><DD>あらゆる方向から<TT> </TT> ～ <TT> </TT>の猛攻を受ける <P><DT><A NAME="hard"><B>hard sell campaigns</B></A><DD>強力な売り込みの選挙運動 <P><DT><A NAME="have"><B>have the final say</B></A><DD>最終決定権を持つ <P><DT><A NAME="poll"><B>polling booths</B></A><DD>投票所 </DL> </p> <br /> <hr size="1" noshade /> <ul> <li><a href="/st_contributors.htm">執筆者リスト</a></li> <li><a href="/st_contributors.htm">ＳＴについて</a></li> <li><a href="/st_faq.htm">よくある質問</a></li> <li><a href="/st_advertise.htm">広告掲載</a></li> <li><a href="/st_contactus.htm">お問い合わせ</a></li> <li><a href="/st_our_company.htm">会社概要</a></li> <li><a href="/st_privacypolicy.htm">プライバシーポリシー</a></li> <li><a href="/st_linkpolicy.htm">リンクポリシー</a></li> <li><a href="/st_copyright.htm">著作権</a></li> <li><a href="/st_sitemap.htm">サイトマップ</a></li> <br /> <li><a href="/"><i>トップページに戻る</i></a></li> </ul>