Channel Nine has set up a private finance scheme to raise $15.5 million to fund production of future series of McLeod's Daughters. The project guarantees investors a 106 per cent return after seven years, on an initial minimum investment of $100,000. This is the first time this type of scheme, which is regularly used in the film industry, has been tried in the financing of a television drama series in Australia. It is aimed at the rich. The rich can fund McLeod's Daughters
Eye on Politics & Law Lords: High rollers linked with tax scam
A $300 million offshore tax evasion scheme involving rich individuals across four states has been exposed in a multi-agency investigation
Federal Justice and Customs Minister Chris Ellison today congratulated the Australian Crime Commission (ACC), the Australian Taxation Office and the Australian Federal Police for uncovering what he said was a major, organised effort to defraud the Commonwealth of tax revenue.
During the past two days of Operation Wickenby, which began in October last year with 285 personnel, the ACC raided 48 properties in NSW, WA, Queensland and Victoria, while the ATO took action to access documents in a further 37 locations.
It sends a very clear message that all people in Australia are subject to paying tax
• Blues Over White Collar Schemes [Democrats to deliver tax cuts ; Jacki Weaver plays a former chorus girl addicted to the one-armed bandits in Ruby's Last Dollar Blow up the pokies: Down on her luck she's down to her last lucky coin ]
• · The tyranny of the majority is even more pronounced when the minority in question repudiates not just the majority's opinion, but the social contract as such. The failure of the democrats to adequately resolve this predicament is considered a significant flaw in democracy." Does Democracy have Weaknesses? ; Business Review Weekly, 09/06/2005, by Jonathan Kuan (Letter): In presenting your report about GOD'S MILLIONAIRES (Cover Story, May 26) you draw attention to the complex relationship that exists between death and taxes, capitalism and religion. One reaction, prompted by the heading that Pentecostal churches are inheriting the earth tax-free, is simply to suggest that these churches should lose their tax-free status. If the mega-churches are indeed real commercial enterprises, then tax them like the mining companies and the multinationals Call to end conflict of faith and money; The new look business.gov.au is open for business
• · · Anne Lampe: After each of the myriad rule and regulation changes involving super over the years you'd be forgiven for thinking it can't get more complex or contradictory, but it does. Until recently, super fund members could not gain access to their benefits between 55 and 65 years of age unless they permanently left the workforce Super stream: Take your time choosing a super fund ; Super: read between the lines
• · · · Henry Kissinger, Int'l Herald Tribune Relations Between China and the U.S. ; Jim Hoagland, Washington Post Whose Asian Century? India vs. China ; Juking about Killing Dick The Assassination of Richard Nixon
• · · · · The lawyer representing a former Chinese security bureau official who has been granted refugee status in Australia has outlined abuses he says his client saw perpetrated by members of China's secret service Lawyer says Australia hosts Chinese spy network; Third Chinese man backs countrymen's claims ; Abbott, Costello back asylum for Chen ; Failure to act on Chen 'extraordinary' The discomfort zone
• · · · · · Bob Carr has confessed to fantasising about being mayor of New York City, the world's most buzzing high-density metropolis. In reality, he is more like the California highway commissioner ... Environmental road too rocky for Carr ; Carr's winning role as son of Bradfield ; Neville Wran used the 1986 ALP state conference to stun the party with his decision to resign as premier. As this weekend's conference draws near, Bob Carr, the state's longest serving premier since Federation, has been at pains to hose down speculation that he might do the same ... It would be my last if I am assassinated on the way out of the Town Hall. If I am assassinated on my way in, then the last conference I addressed was my last Carrying on