Green Scene
Households in the
clean energy future According to the federal government, households will play an important role in the government’s plan for a clean energy future. To help households adjust to the introduction of the carbon price, more than half of the revenue raised will be given to them primarily in the form of tax cuts, higher family payments and increases in pensions and allowances. The package of household assistance, first and foremost, helps to ensure that the impact of a carbon price is manageable for low-and-middle-income Australian households, especially those who have less financial room to adjust to change. It does this through cash assistance delivered through tax cuts and increased government payments. Other parts of the household assistance package support incentives for households to adopt their own energy-and cost-saving measures. The government is also taking the opportunity of moving the economy to a clean energy future to reform the structure of the personal tax system, consistent with key recommendations of the 2009 Australia’s Future Tax System Review. These reforms will modernise the personal income tax system, making it simpler and more transparent. By cutting taxes, they will also improve incentives for and rewards from work, building on other recent government measures to lift workforce participation. The government will more than treble the statutory tax-free threshold to $18,200 in 2012, which will replace all but $445 of the existing low-income tax offset (LITO). The combined effect of the LITO plus the $18,200 tax-free threshold means that people will be able to earn annual income of up to $20,542 before they pay any net tax. This will improve the rewards for work at low incomes. s 3EE MORE AT WWW CLEANENERGYFUTURE GOV AU
AUSTRALIAN ETHICAL
How we use our money has a great impact on the sort of world we live in. We can buy sustainable or fair trade goods, purchase green power or support our local producers. Putting your money with an ethical investment or superannuation fund is another example of how we can use money in a socially positive way.
ing investment in companies with superior environmental and social credentials. These companies are generally in industries such as renewable DQG HIĂ€ FLHQW HQHUJ\ RUJDQLF foods, sustainable transport, recycling and water technologies.
Taking account of a company’s environmental, social and governance perforEthical and sustainable mance makes good investLQYHVWRUV VHHN WR EHQHÀ W ment sense. Companies from investment in compathat do better at managing nies whose activities make these risks and responsibilities a difference on a range of should also perform better ethical, social and environcommercially. For over two mental issues. decades Australian Ethical So as well as making personal has produced competitive efforts to reduce your water À QDQFLDO UHWXUQV DOOLHG ZLWK and energy use, taking pub- strong ethical values. lic transport and recycling, Changing your super to an ethical investment allows ethical fund is easier than your money to work towards ever. It takes just a few minmaking a positive difference XWHV WR GR RQOLQH 7R À QG RXW too. more please contact AustraWhile other funds may avoid lian Ethical on 1800 021 227 certain stocks, Australian Ethi- or visit www.australianethical. cal is unique in actively seek- com.au.
‘No matter what I’m doing, my super fund is on the job making sure my investments are clean and green.’
BRIAN New Internationalist, committed to global justice. Plays hot jazz.
t XXX BVTUSBMJBOFUIJDBM DPN BV Australian Ethical Investment Ltd (‘AEI’) ABN 47 003 188 930, AFSL 229949. Australian Ethical Superannuation Pty Ltd ABN 43 079 259 733 RSEL L0001441. A PDS is available from our website or by calling us and should be considered before making an investment decision. Australian EthicalŽ is a registered trademark of AEI.
20 July 19, 2011 The Byron Shire Echo
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