Commission lobbies Canberra
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Record reporter COLLEEN HOWARD looks at the Josephites as they prepare to have ther case put to the Vatican to have their founder declared a saint. See story and pictures pages 10 and 11.
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In the absence of any direct family unit taxation measures, the Federal Government should restore the value of the Family Allowance to at least its 1976 value and index it. This is the view of Father Kevin Caldwell director of the Australian Catholic Social Welfare Commission which has just released its document, A Fair Go for Families. 'The dependent spouse rebate should be retained, increased and indexed as well," he added. The shorter version of A Fair Go for Families will be obtainable in parishes at a cost of $1.00 per copy. The full text of the discussion paper can be obtained from the commission (PO Box 112 Curtin ACT 2605) at $10.00 per copy plus postage.
Father Kevin Caldwell, National Director Australian Catholic Social Welfare Commission.
Concessions needed
''The economic posi-
tion of single income families with children deteriorated during the last 10 years and very many families are finding the task of raising children a severe financial burden," he said. "By 1988, a single income family on average weekly
On Tuesday night Bishop Hickey blessed the impressive new Geraldton Catholic Centre that stands on the diagonal corner to St Francis Xavier Cathedral. See page 2.
earnings with two dependent children will have suffered since 1977 a reduction in its disposable share of earnings of nearly five percentage points," he said. In contrast, taxpayers with no dependants, but earning three times the average weekly wage, will have increased their dispos-
able share of earnings by more than three percentage points." He said a major factor in the decline in disposable share of earnings for a breadwinner with dependants was the virtual abolition of the rebates for children over the last 35 years "By 1988, an average
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weekly earner with two dependent children will be receiving tax rebates worth 0.78 per cent of average weekly earnings," he said. "In 1951, an average weekly earner with two children had his taxable income reduced by deductions worth 21.56 per cent of average weekly earnings.
Father Caldwell said the introduction of family allowances in 1976 had no significant impact on this trend as they were worth only 2.58 per cent of the average weekly wage. "The Australian tax system effectively ignores the cost of caring for dependants," he said.
Nert Thursday is the last day for receipt of applications from elderly parishioners wanting to see Pope John Paul at Glendalough. Individual written applications should be sent to GLENDALOUGH CEREMONY, Papal Visit Office, PO Box
6319 Hay St East, Perth, 6000. Seats will be distributed in mid-August and successful applicants notified by mail.