I recently received a lovely letter from Adam Morrison, of the National Australia Bank. He pointed out how people are changing the way they bank, and I suppose he is correct – there are all sorts of online options for those who have computers, and phone options.
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In light of this, he informed me that the Culcairn branch of the NAB will be closing its doors forever.
I’m assuming Mr Morrison has never considered the fact that the areas where people have changed the way they bank the least are the little country towns. Elderly people who don’t have computers, have difficulty hearing, so don’t use telephone banking and mobility issues that mean they’d struggle to get into Albury or Wagga NAB branches, can get a park close to the NAB at Culcairn.
Those customers are unlikely to suddenly get a computer just to do their banking.
I know the NAB made $6.64 billion in profit last year, even with providing services to small towns. I don’t see how losing loyal customers will benefit the bank? I wonder if we all sent in letters would the bank change its mind?
Judi McLachlan, Culcairn
Tax cuts: we need facts
The proposed tax cuts are about to be passed by the Senate if the government can get the numbers. I would like to ask what reforms are being made to the tax regime for corporations? I may be simple minded but at the current headline tax rate of 30 per cent for corporations I am being told by leading economists that this is not a flat tax rate.
There are further concessions available to corporations under the current tax office arrangements. This brings the headline rate from 30 per cent down to an effective rate of 17.5 per cent. Now this is a very competitive rate of tax on the global stage and Australia is a safe and secure democracy which is also very attractive to foreign companies.
If the reduction in the taxation rate for corporations is passed and it is dropped to the touted 25 per cent then are we to assume that the generous tax concessions offered by the tax office, amounting to 12.5 per cent, are still available to corporations? How is the government going to raise enough tax revenue to pay for the essential services such as education, health and pensions?
We know as a fact that the top corporations pay only about 12 per cent to zero tax under current rules so what is the chance of any of the corporations paying any tax at all once the reduction is in place. This bill should not be passed until there is full disclosure about the hidden benefits offered to corporations so the public can make a real assessment of the proposal.
Kevin De La Torre, Staghorn Flat
Our worship is misplaced
Remember the saying; Fair go mate, it's just not cricket? Well it appears that we have lost both of those principles with our hero worship of all sporting so-called stars. Think of footballers, tennis players, swimmers etc.
We have so many overpaid super brats these days on millions a year that contribute nothing to the community. Not to mention the betting agencies that benefit largely from these hubris drones.
How about a bit of hero worship for our doctors, nurses, child care workers and elderly care workers along with our many volunteers who do a magnificent job, some with no pay at all.
The saying that love of money is the root of all evil should be changed to include the love of ego.