Australia is going to the polls next week. And the campaign? Honestly, it’s duller than watching a washing machine. What should be about policies, leadership, and Australia’s future has turned into a festival of fence-sitting and taxpayer giveaways.
Politicians are throwing billions around like Monopoly money, a few billion here, a few billion there. And for what? To avoid making decisions that might actually upset someone. Instead of leading Australia forward, they’re just slinging mud at each other and hoping it sticks.
Now, my eldest is voting for the first time. We ended up at a Green Party gathering in a park. Me? I’d probably be defined as Satan by the Greens because I own a 6-litre V12 fuel-guzzling monster. But I wanted my son to see all sides of the argument, so we stayed.
The Greens actually do have a few good ideas. But some of their policies? They make a horror film look like a comedy. That said, Labor and Liberal aren’t much better. Choosing between them feels like deciding which corner of the fridge mould to lick none of it’s appealing.
So, my son asked the million-dollar question:
What would you do if you were Prime Minister, Dad?
Well, strap in. Here’s how I’d fix Australia from a tax, business, housing, and productivity perspective.
1. Immigration Policy: The Right Skills, Not Just Numbers
Half a million people have arrived in two years. That’s not immigration policy, that’s a stampede. The Greens want to fling open the doors further, even with specific preferences for Palestinian refugees. Why not just hang a Vacancy sign on the Sydney Opera House?
Australia doesn’t just need more people. We need the right people, builders, doctors, engineers. Skilled migrants who can contribute to the economy.
Everyone else? Sorry. It’s harsh, but a functioning, growing country cannot be built on good vibes and soy candles.
2. Fixing the Australian Tax System
- Simplify Tax Returns: If you’re an employee with no investments, you shouldn’t need to file a tax return. Why waste everyone’s time? You’re not laundering money in Panama. You’re just paying tax on wages. Done. Dusted. Accountants may scream (because they lose business), but this reduces red tape and makes the ATO more efficient.
- The ATO Problem: The Australian Tax Office is under-resourced, inconsistent, and messy. It collects all Federal money yet operates inefficiently. We need to overhaul the system, scrap pointless taxes, and streamline compliance.
- Negative Gearing: Negative gearing? Gone. It damages wealth building, drives up housing prices, and creates unfair advantages for investors over first-home buyers. It worsens Australia’s housing problem.
- Payroll Tax: Payroll tax is the dumbest tax in the world punishing companies for employing Australians. Every state should scrap it. (Credit where it’s due: even the Greens support this policy.)
- Business Education: Too many businesses fail because owners lack financial knowledge. If you want an ABN, you should have proper education in tax, bookkeeping, business structures, and strategy. No YouTube crash courses over cereal. Real training, subsidised by the government.
3. Housing & Cities: Building for the Future
Housing affordability is a disaster. In the mid-2000s, the average home cost 4x the average income. Today, it’s more than 8x.
- Labor’s plan: Build 1.2 million homes in 10 years. But there’s no timeline, no locations, and experts say they’ll still be 400,000 short.
- Liberals’ plan: Let people raid Superannuation and write off mortgage interest. Equally bonkers.
- Greens’ plan: Freeze rent increases to 1%. But that just discourages landlords from maintaining properties.
The real problem? Planning laws. Builders can’t build near cities because of environmental restrictions. Koalas are lovely, but if we want our kids to afford homes, we need a balance between conservation and housing.
What’s needed: more houses, more cities, and a real plan. Everything else is political spin.4. Productivity: Australia’s Hidden Crisis
Despite AI, smartphones, and robots, productivity is down.
- The left says: Pay workers more
- The right says: Pay workers less
- I say: The system’s broken
Sick leave abuse and the inefficiency of working from home (WFH) are big contributors. At WOW! Advisors, we have remote staff in the Philippines, and while they work hard, training and team communication suffer. Productivity in Australia is even worse, given our high wages.
Businesses cannot justify high costs if productivity continues falling.5. Education: Teach Real-World Skills
Why are schools still teaching kids manual long division? Nobody does 867 ÷ 42 on paper anymore. We use phones.
Instead, schools should focus on:
- Financial literacy: Savings, investments, taxes
- Politics & economics: Real-world knowledge
- Work-ready skills
Forget the Commonwealth Bank’s mascots, kids need real education, not gimmicks.
6.Awards, Unions & Workers’ Rights
-
Awards System:
Australia has 121 employee awards. That’s insane. Most small business owners can’t navigate them. Scrap the complexity. Build a simpler, fairer system for employees and employers. -
Unions:
Unions have a role. But wasting money on jobs like paying someone to flip a STOP/SLOW sign when electronic traffic lights exist is ridiculous. We’re clinging to outdated systems instead of embracing efficiency. -
Workers’ Rights & The 4-Day Work Week:
The Greens want a 4-day work week. Sounds nice if you’re sipping lattes. But you can’t build a car in less time just because a law says so. Costs would rise by 20%, and consumers would pay more.
Yes, workers want flexibility, but commitment and productivity must match. It cannot be a universal entitlement.
7. Investment Incentives
If you want businesses to invest, dangle the carrot.
- Make the instant asset write-off $250,000 permanently.
- Limit it to equipment, utes, and machines that improve productivity.
- Ban vanity purchases (luxury cars for CEOs).
This ensures businesses invest in assets that drive growth, not ego.
Final Thoughts: If I Were PM of Australia
If I were Prime Minister, Australia would have:
- Fewer taxes
- Smarter business incentives
- More housing and cities
- Simpler education and fairer workplace rules
Yes, some feelings would be hurt. Some koalas might need to move. But Australia would be stronger.
In reality, though? Politicians don’t have the guts to propose bold changes. They just focus on what upsets the least number of people.
So my honest opinion? No matter who you vote for we’re doomed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What impact does payroll tax have on businesses?
How can small business owners avoid failure?
How can the government encourage business investment?
Why do businesses need accountants and advisors even if tax is simplified?
Work Less, Earn More & Build Wealth
WOW! Advisors have helped many business owners work less, earn more, and build incredible wealth. If you think we may be able to help you, contact us for a free consultation by clicking the big button below.
