The Record Newspaper 09 August 1990

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Father Kevin Caldwell, national director of the Australian Catholic Welfare Social Commission.

PERTH, WA: August 9, 1990

Number 2700

Registered by Australia Post Publication No WAR 0202

POST ADDRESS: PO Box 50, Northbridge, 6000 W.A. LOCATION: 26 John St, Northbridge (east off Fitzgerald St).

TELEPHONE: (09) 328 1388

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'CURRENT POLICY HAS FAILED TO HARMONISE SOCIAL SECURITY AND TAXATION'

Call to remove poverty traps Sustained high interest rates and high taxation can be counterproductive if homelessness, unemployment, business failures and family breakdowns increase as a result, says the Australian Catholic Social Welfare Commission. The Commission is concerned that such social casts may be generated by Budget policies. In a pre budget statement this week the commission said a Commonwealth budget surplus is apparently being achieved too rapidly and 1411111111•1111111111111111111111111101V.

at too great a cost to the community, especially for those less able to afford it. "Since 1983. the Federai Budget has moved from roughly a Si billion prospective deficit to a surplus of $8 billion. "This turnaround of $17 billion has been achieved on top of increased Federal and Government State spending, most of which has come from increased taxation revenues, notwithstanding reductions in marginal tax rates. Father Kevin Caldwell. the National Director. issmor_ ,

said: "Sustained high interest rates are becoming an increasing concern for many Australian families facing difficulpaying home ties mortgages. "These families have also absorbed the impact of several years of wage restraint. "The burdens created by high interest rates are not distributed among those who can best afford to bear them and some families have last their home and their livelihood because of this situation. "The government's most recent announce-

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ment of an easing of high interest rates is encouraging: Lower income earners and those supporting family dependants bear the brunt of increased taxation and Government charges. The rise in taxation has meant that Australian families have increasingly figured disproportionately in the tax base notwithstanding the recent welcome increases to and the indexation of the dependent spouse rebate, family alowances and supplements.

A just tax system must There is a widespread recognise fully the costs misconception that of caring for dependants increasing foreign and those with disabili- indebtedness of the prities. Social security vate sector constitutes a benefits and taxation legitimate reason for scales should comple- denying tax relief to ment each other. However, a more equitIn this way, tax would only be levied on income able tax system for in excess of basic needs taxpayers with dependand social security pay- ants could result in ments would be directed increased incentives to towards those unable to productivity by reducing average and marginal tax meet these needs. The Commission notes rates for all family that while the Australian taxpayers. "Current policy." said Government's overseas debt is being reduced, the Father Caldwell. "has bulk of Australia's total failed to harmonise overseas debt is privately social security and taxation arrangements and owed.

has created many situations where family breadwinners are diadvantaged if they work harder. Not only do they pay additional tax, but they lose social security benefits by doing extra work." A fair tax system for families could reduce disincentives and poverty traps. A reduction in effective marginal tax rates faced by workers with families would encourage national productivity, and help reduce the burden of servicing the foreign debt. Tax justice can also be good economic sense.

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English blacks demand respect

Vatican warns of When silence collision course is courage

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Surrogacy: Call for unifor law

Surrogacy fails to meet the obligations of maternal love and offends the dignity of the child. These points were clearly emphasised by the Australian Catholic bishops in a recent statement calling for legislation on surro:cy. They called for uniform legislation throughout Australia to discourage surrogacy and to retain the current State legislation which protects the status of children involved in surrogacy arrangements. Speaking as president of the Bishops Conference, Cardinal Clancy said: "There are grave risks for harm in surrogacy arrangements and the practice should be discouraged. The welfare and interests of the child and the protection of individual women from exploitation are of paramount importance. "Surrogate motherhood represents a failure to meet

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the obligations of maternal love, of marital fidelity, and of responsible motherhood. "It offends the dignity of the child and is contrary to the child's right to have been conceived, carried in the womb, brought into the world, and brought up by his or her own parents. "It is an experiment with family relationships and as such is of direct concern to the whole community." Although he recognised that the law cannot effectively prevent all surrogacy arrangements, Cardinal Clancy said that the report of the National Bioethics Consultative Committee had failed to consider the option of prohibiting medical assistance to surrogacy arrangements. He said the majority of submissions and a significant number of the members of the Committee did not support the recommendations which would facilitate and encourage surrogacy.

The Bishops recommended that a national uniform approach should at least include: a) Retaining the Status of Children legislation which ensures that a child remains the child of the woman who gave birth to the child, unless a court adoption order in the best interests of the child is made. b) Legislation which ensures that: • surrogacy contracts are unenforceable: • the giving or receiving of any payment, fee or reward for a surrogacy arrangement or assisting a surrogacy arrangrnent is an offence: • a medical practitioner who assists a surrogacy arrangement is guilty of gross misconduct: • advertising or soliciting for the purpose of a surrogacy arrangement is an offence. • See Page 3


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