Brian Lawrence
Brian Lawrence LL.B. M.Ec. prepared submissions and appeared on behalf of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and agencies of the Catholic Church in the national annual wage reviews from 2003 to 2019. He is a former barrister and was a Deputy President of the Industrial Relations Commission of Victoria, the functions of which have been transferred to national tribunals.
Recent articles by Brian Lawrence
Restoring tax equity for the low-paid should be an election issue
The critical issue in the May 2025 election is likely to be about the rising costs of living, with competing views about whether the Labor Party is responsible for them and which of the major parties is most likely to address them.
Labor has unfinished business on tax - Its 2024 tax cuts have failed low-paid workers
In his address to the National Press Club on 24 January 2025, Prime Minister Albanese reflected on his Government’s decision announced a year earlier to change “the tax plan we inherited from the Morrison Government to make it better and fairer”. It is likely to be a major selling point in the coming Federal election.
One last chance for the low paid to receive tax equity
21 days after the Federal Government did an about-face on its earlier promise to maintain the previously legislated income tax regime, it has secured passage through the House of Representatives of major changes to Australias income tax legislation. But speed and the evident equity in the major part of those changes, principally directed at middle Australia, has poorly served the interests of Australias low paid workers. Might the Senate crossbench prove to be the voice of the low paid?
Labors tax plan fails low paid workers
The Albanese Government was right to change its previous position on the already legislated Stage 3 tax cuts and to seek a fairer and more equitable taxation system for all Australians. However, its proposed changes fail to deal sufficiently with the increasing tax bites into the incomes of low paid working Australians. The focus on middle Australia has diverted attention away from those who have traditionally looked to Labor to represent their interests.