While 4.5million Australians are set to receive an extra $1,080 after Scott Morrison’s tax cut package passed through parliament, fast food workers, doctors and beauticians are among those who won’t be so lucky.
The government secured the crossbench support it needed to pass the $158billion plan unchanged through the Senate on Thursday night.
Low and middle income earners will qualify for the extra cash, with those earning between $48,000 and $90,000 getting the full $1,080 when their tax claims are returned.
But minimum wage workers and highly-paid professionals are the forgotten people.
While 4.5million Australians are set to receive an extra $1,080 after Scott Morrison’s tax cut package passed through parliament. Mr Morrison is pictured Morrison after the passing of the Treasury Laws Amendment
The government secured the crossbench support it needed to pass the $158billion plan unchanged through the Senate on Thursday night
Those earning less than $37,000 will get a measly amount by comparison – nothing at the bottom end of the scale and $255 at the top, depending on their tax affairs.
For those earning between $37,000 and $48,000 they will get somewhere between $255 and the full $1,080.
Middle and high income earners making between $90,000 and $126,000 will receive a lesser amount.
Millions who work in the hospitality industry – baristas, waitresses, bartenders and fast food employees – may not be benefiting from the government’s tax cut package at all, with the median pay sitting at $32,000.
Those in the beauty industry earn between $34,000 and $56,000 per year, meaning beauticians on the lower end of the pay scale will also forego the $1,080.
Mechanics across the country earn a median wage of $48,000, meaning they just make into into the group set to get the whole amount back.
Millions who work in the hospitality industry – baristas, waitresses, bartenders and fast food workers – may not be benefiting from the government’s tax cut package
The median pay for those working in hospitality sits at $32,000, so they may not be seeing the full $1,080
For those working in administration, not everyone will be as lucky.
Receptionists earn between $34,000 and $53,000 annually, meaning those at the lower end of the scale won’t have much extra cash to blow.
Hairdressers earn between $38,000 and $58,000 annually, meaning some working in the hair industry will get closer to $255.
Cleaners, who earn an annual median salary of $42,269, won’t be getting the full $1,080 back, but somewhere between $255 and the full amount.
Retail workers on average earn $40,566 per year, which means they also won’t be getting the full amount back.
On the other end of the scale, doctors and surgeons – earning over $126,000 won’t see a cent of the $1080.
Nor will neurosurgeons, who earn a median salary of $288.290.
Architects and Engineers will also completely miss out on the $1,080 as both roles earn upwards of $130,000 per year.
The unemployed, such as those on parenting payments and Newstart, won’t be seeing any extra cash under the Government’s plan.
The tax cut package passed the Senate on Thursday night 59 votes to 9, with the Coalition, Labor and four crossbenchers voting in favour.
The first stage of the plan will deliver up to $1,080 to low and middle-income earners when they lodge their tax returns in coming months.
The second stage would top up a low-income tax offset, meaning people earning up to $45,000 – instead of $41,000 – would have a 19 per cent tax rate.
The final stage would flatten the tax rate from 32.5 per cent to 30 per cent for people earning between $45,000 and $200,000 from mid-2024.
Labor tried in vain to amend the bill to strip out the third stage and deliver the second stage sooner.
Hairdressers earn between $38,000 and $58,000 annually, meaning some working in the hair industry will get closer to $255
Architects and Engineers will also completely miss out on the $1,080 as both roles earn upwards of $130,000 per year
Independent senator Jacqui Lambie backed the full package in return for action on Tasmania’s homelessness crisis.
She wants Tasmania’s $157million public housing debt be wiped or renegotiated, but is still ironing out a deal after supporting the cuts ‘in good faith’.
‘I need those kids and their families off the streets in warm houses,’ she told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.
‘I’m not sitting around on this for another four or five weeks while we play argy-bargy.’
On the other end of the scale, doctors and surgeons – earning over $126,000 won’t see a cent of the $1080
Independent senator Jacqui Lambie backed the full package in return for action on Tasmania’s homelessness crisis
Centre Alliance – which carries two Senate votes – also backed the full package after the government listened to its thoughts on how policy on gas prices should be shaped.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Finance Minister Matthias Cormann issued a statement saying the package will relieve millions of Australians.
‘The Coalition Government has delivered on its promise, as outlined in this year’s Budget, to build a better tax system and provide more tax relief to hard-working Australians,’ the joint statement said.
‘As a result, low and middle income earners will keep more of what they earn and have more money in their pockets.
‘This will ultimately boost household consumption, which will be good for the overall economy.’
Meanwhile, Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson was pictured in a bizarre exchange with the four crossbenchers who supported the bill.
Independent Senators Cory Bernardi and Jacqui Lambie, Centre Alliance Senator Rex Patrick, Independent Senator and Central Alliance Senator Stirling were pictured pointing and laughing at Senator Whish-Wilson moments after the bill was passed.
Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson (left) Independent Senator Cory Bernardi, Centre Alliance Senator Rex Patrick, Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie (left to right) and Central Alliance Senator Stirling Griff react during Senate business at Parliament House
The nine Greens senators who voted against the package all received a base annual salary of $207,100, including Dr Mehreen Faruqi (left) and Jordon Steele-John (right)
Senator Richard Di Natale (middle), Janet Rice (left) and Peter Whish-Wilson (right) also opposed the tax cut package
All nine Greens Senators opposed the tax cut package and voted against the bill.
Greens Leader Richard Di Natale spoke in parliament against the package, and slammed Labor for their decision to support it.
‘What a disgrace… what a disgrace,’ the Victorian Senator said.
‘The Labor party, for a hundred years supported progressive taxation, are now saying “we are with the neo-liberals”, “we are with a party that wants to take Australia down the path of Trumps’ America”.’
He urged Labor to ‘show some courage’ and to ‘toughen up’ and fight against the Coalition like the Opposition Party should.
Rachel Siewart (left) and Nick McKim (right) also voted no against the tax cut package
Among the Greens senators who opposed the tax cut package were Larissa Waters (left) and Sarah Hanson-Young (right)
‘There are so many Australians in this country, who are crying out for leadership… and you’ve caved, you’ve crumbled, you’ve given in at the first sign of pressure,’ Mr Di Natale said.
‘People held high hopes for Anthony Albanese, and if this is a sign of where the modern Labor party are going… well, frankly, we’re stuffed.’
Mr Di Natale said the Greens showed themselves to be the ‘real opposition’ in the parliament and will fight the tax cuts.
‘We call on you to join us, to work with us, to make sure the tax system is used to address inequality, not entrench it, not continue the divide that exists within Australia,’ he said.
‘Make no mistake, we will unequivocally put the spotlight on you to make sure you repeal this vile piece of legislation at the next election.’
The package earlier passed the lower house on Tuesday night after about three hours of debate.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has promised the money would be flowing as soon as possible.
‘If the legislation passes this week… the ATO (Australian Tax Office) staff are all ready to move it through the system and people will get it next week,’ he told Sky News.
‘Once they put in their tax returns, if they put in their tax returns next week, they’ll get it just days after.’
For those eager workers who have already applied for their tax returns can rest easy as they will not miss out.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Finance Minister Matthias Cormann issued a statement saying the package will relieve millions of Australians