How Good Tax Policy Gets Made and How It Doesn't: GST vs Capital Gains Tax in Australia

Most tax debates focus on the what: rates, base, and who pays. This episode is about the how: the process by which economic policy gets made. Drawing on his time in the Australian Treasury, host Gene Tunny argues that the latest changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing reflect a breakdown in good policymaking. They were announced on budget night without the consultation, published modelling, or public mandate that major reform deserves. As a contrast, Gene revisits the Howard government's GST process of the late 1990s: a detailed white paper, published modelling, and a policy taken to an election for a fresh mandate. With clips from a recent Death and Taxes livestream featuring co-host John Humphreys and guest Derek Francis, the episode asks a question that reaches well beyond Australia: what does good policy process look like, and what does it cost us when governments skip it? Gene would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. You can email him via [email protected].  What You’ll Learn from This Episode Why good policy process is critical for successful economic reform. How the GST was developed through extensive modelling, consultation and public scrutiny. Why inadequate consultation can lead to unintended consequences. The role Treasury plays in providing economic advice to government. How poor policy design can affect investment, productivity and public trust. Timestamps Economic Policy Episode Introduction (0:06) Relevance of Policy Process to Other Countries (4:53) The Howard Government's GST Policy Process (8:11) Current Government's Policy Changes and Issues (13:10) Derek Francis' Criticism of Treasury (22:12) Treasury's Handling of Cigarette Excise Tax (23:17) Derek Francis' Theory on Treasury's Decline (26:49) Home Guarantee Scheme Modelling Issues (37:49) Conclusion and Call for Improvement (41:33) Links relevant to the conversation Australian Taxpayers’ Alliance livestream, Thursday 25 June, “Labor's new tax disaster, with Derek Francis || #47”: https://www.youtube.com/live/vqz_hEVyg70?si=F8DS2GxdUz_-PkmJ Previous episode on capital gains tax, “Taxing Capital More in a Productivity Slump? Perverse Policy in Australia”: https://economics-explained.simplecast.com/episodes/taxing-capital-more-in-a-productivity-slump-perverse-policy-in-australia Howard Government White Paper on “A New Tax System”: https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-03/Whitepaper.pdf Lumo Coffee promotion 10% of Lumo Coffee’s Seriously Healthy Organic Coffee. Website: https://www.lumocoffee.com/10EXPLORED Promo code: 10EXPLORED