Peter Whiteford
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peterwhiteford.bsky.social
Peter Whiteford
@peterwhiteford.bsky.social
1.1K followers 1.1K following 91 posts
Interested in most aspects of social policy in Australia & internationally (also certain literary genres and restricted musical choices); also history (art too)

ANU, Canberra crawford.anu.edu.au/crawford_peopl…
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Reposted by Peter Whiteford
patrickdunleavy.bsky.social
And if you’d like the whole ebook (or any of the 27 chapters) completely free, it’s always just a one-click download from @LSEPress here press.lse.ac.uk/books/e/10.3...
September 18, 2025 at 8:35 AM
peterwhiteford.bsky.social
Does Australia rely too much on taxes on incomes?
New OECD report shows Australia has the fourth lowest share of revenue from income taxes and social security contributions in the OECD in 2022.
September 12, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Reposted by Peter Whiteford
mklapdor.bsky.social
DSS statement here: www.dss.gov.au/news/update-...
Ministerial media release: ministers.dss.gov.au/media-releas...
www.dss.gov.au
July 17, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Reposted by Peter Whiteford
mklapdor.bsky.social
Importantly, the Fed Court rejected the AAT's interpretation of when income is first 'earned'. The AAT's interpretation overturned how DSS/Centrelink had assessed earnings for decades and would have created a lot of issues for calculating pre-December 2020 debts
Screenshot of Fed Court decision para 172: '172 The Tribunal erred in law in concluding that all of Mr Chaplin’s income was earned on Sundays when, according to the Tribunal, a legal entitlement to the week’s income first arose. It thereby misdirected itself and reached a conclusion which was not open on the facts. Whilst it depends on the terms of the relevant contract (and any other instrument or law affecting the terms of employment), generally casual employees earn wages as the service for which they are entitled to be paid is provided. Contracts for casual employment usually provide for service by the hour, shift or day, and so casual employees usually earn income by the hour, shift or day upon the rendering of that service. Wages are not “earned” only when a legally enforceable right to payment arises on the express or implied terms of the contract.'
July 17, 2025 at 12:35 AM
peterwhiteford.bsky.social
This appears to be actually legal - but is it good public policy to pursue debts based on calculations in a system that was so complex that the administration got it wrong.
July 17, 2025 at 12:46 AM