Consultation
Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) Reform living-away-from-home benefits
Name
Miss Briony Wringe
Organisation
Email
briwringe@hotmail.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 to may concern 

I am more than a little concerned about your decision to change the laws on LAFHA. 
My family and I moved here from the UK and whilst LAFHA was not our reason for moving it certainly helps our financial situation as we are temporary residence and as a result unable to benefit from the status of permanent residence. 

We may not be permanent, but my husband and I contribute to this countries economy, in the jobs we do, and the money we spend in this country- housing, medical, schooling etc etc 

We also maintain a property in the UK, which we are taxed on and continue to pay our National Insurance in the UK, so not to loose any benefits there when we return. 

Changing the ruling on LAFHA, but not changing any of the other benefits at the sametime, will leave myself and my family in a difficult position as we try to continue to live in Australia as residents without any of the benefits that a permanent residence receives. 

For a country that prides itself in cultural awareness and inclusion this feels like a terrible discrimination to a group of your workforce that as I said are contributing to your society in many ways. 

I can understand why you want to crack down on this 'benefit' but a knee jerk change like this without any other reforms coming through to make up for the lose seems short sighted. 

Is there not a way to 

1) stagger it- phase it out over time? 50% this year, 25% the next for example, rather than cutting it all out in one go 
2) adopt a similar approach to your proposal for permanent residents receiving LAFHA, who will see it phased out by 2014- again it seems one rule for some and one rule for another 
3) make permanent residence status more accessible so those who are temporary can apply and receive resident benefits 
4) as you remove LAFHA, allow temporary residents to receive the same health, school, super tax levels, voting status as permanent residence- make it a level playing field 

To be honest it feels like the Government is basically saying 'thanks very much for everything you have contributed but we don't really want you here- so deal with it or leave' 

Shame really, seemed such a lovely country when we arrived. Now seems to be punishing a group that can't vote- other than with our feet I guess. 

I sincerely hope, but am doubtful, that you will reconsider a transition period for those of us that are temporary residence so tat remaining in Australia can be a viable situation for us. 

Kind Regards, Briony Wringe