Govt' wants a new tax on on-line purchases

[billdan (Bill)]

Our Nanny Govt' wants to introduce a new online shopping tax of up to $7 per parcel to cover the costs of X-Ray screening. This is on top of the 10% GST that will applied.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-2...rnment/9574920

Now we the consumer never asked for this screening, so if it hurts the govt' financially, just stop doing it.

[dannat (Daniel)]

can't they just slug the drug delears by using the proceeds of crime funds - its most likly their fault they have to scan parcels anyway

[Shano592 (Shane)]

I can see DHL, Fedex and the like picking up a lot of new business.

In a lot of cases, the difference between them and Post is only a few dollars, but their finishing is a much better experience, on the whole.

[LewisM]

The Yanks tried this under the Obama Mis-administration - didn't last long (and we the EXPORTER to the USA had to pay it!!!!!!!!!)

Another hair brained 5 years behind the rest of the world in-hindsight Australian "government" plan. The more we kowtow (being polite - pornographic reference comes to mind) to the Yanks the more we emulate our masters. Julie Bishop is the prime show-pony in this respect.

[Wavytone]

Well... if it cuts the number of guns shipped in parts, illicit drugs, cuts the trade in endangered species (eggs, reptiles and birds) not to mention hazardous nasty stuff in parcels starting with anthrax or parcel bombs... I'd have to say yes, small price to pay. The shipping for the small parcel I received today via FedEx cost $40 so frankly i don't see why not and its not harebrained; far from it.

I'm actually quite surprised it hasn't dawned on the IS nutters to send nasty parcels to random addresses en-mass, via the international post. Mass-marketting CD's full of millions of valid names and addresses are easily obtained thanks to the likes of Brylar OnLine.

Would be quite effective at paralysing a lot of online trade.

[luka]

Just bought some temperature/humidity sensors from AliExpress for $2 shipped. I would have definitely thought about it twice if I had to pay the new tax which is about 350% of the value of the sensors.

On the other hand, the increase in the overseas prices would benefit the Australian retailers who buy in bulk, especially for the smaller (cheaper) items.

[The_bluester (Paul)]

Still a case in point is that US prices for a lot of things are so much lower than here that even with a new fee and GST it is nearly irrelevant.

I spent a grand AUD yesterday on parts for my racecar from the US, Including freight. The best I could do for exactly the same thing from an Aus retailer was $1350. And that is one of the smaller markups on car stuff I have seen.

[Malcolm]

So Border Force is going to post a letter to me advising that they are holding my parcel until I pay the $7:00? Seriously? How is this going to be collected?

[The_bluester (Paul)]

Probably expect the retailers to collect it for them as well.

[The Mekon (John Briggs)]

Originally Posted by Malcolm

So Border Force is going to post a letter to me advising that they are holding my parcel until I pay the $7:00? Seriously? How is this going to be collected?

What a bunch of selfish people we have here. So other taxpayers should fork out so that those who choose to buy items from overseas (and have the money to do so) can get their stuff cheap?.

And the answer to the above is for the PO to hold all parcels, just advise that there is a parcel waiting, and for you to front the PO and pay.

[GrahamL]

Multi scanning technology that I've been around these days is incredibly fast and cheap (excludeing set up ) and I'm pretty sure thats what they would introduce ,if it isn't in use already , Several dollars plus per item isnt just about recouping the cost its an earner plain and simple.

[LewisM]

Originally Posted by The Mekon

What a bunch of selfish people we have here. So other taxpayers should fork out so that those who choose to buy items from overseas (and have the money to do so) can get their stuff cheap?.

And the answer to the above is for the PO to hold all parcels, just advise that there is a parcel waiting, and for you to front the PO and pay.

So, using that logic, people that work - since Auspost is open 9-5 - need to find time to collect the items. This also further exacerbates logistics by having the PO to sort "duty to pay" and not dutiable (local parcels)...which will mean post rates will increase again to offset the extra time and effort involved at the sorting centre...

Snowball effect. We all pay irrespective and retrospectively.

[Malcolm]

Originally Posted by The Mekon

What a bunch of selfish people we have here. So other taxpayers should fork out so that those who choose to buy items from overseas (and have the money to do so) can get their stuff cheap?.

And the answer to the above is for the PO to hold all parcels, just advise that there is a parcel waiting, and for you to front the PO and pay.

Not selfish at all! Valid question on how this levy/tarriff would be collected. I would not mind paying the $5-$7 if it's still cheaper than buying from OfficeJerks or Hardly Normal.

[glend (Glen)]

I wonder what affect Donald Trump's just announced 25% tariff on Chinese tech related (maybe including optics) products will have on all the astro gear: scopes, mounts, etc now manufactured in China. This may have more impact, certainly in the US market, in the longer run than a per box levy. If lower production volumes in China drive up unit prices, our costs could rise, although this will take years to play out.

[Imme (Jon)]

Originally Posted by GrahamL

Multi scanning technology that I've been around these days is incredibly fast and cheap (excludeing set up ) and I'm pretty sure thats what they would introduce ,if it isn't in use already , Several dollars plus per item isnt just about recouping the cost its an earner plain and simple.

Agreed!

$7 per item, 300 items per hour scanned (at a guess)......that’s $2,100 per hour......operator gets say $50....where does the rest go?

[Wavytone]

Originally Posted by GrahamL

its an earner plain and simple.

Quite likely. The reality for austpost is that sales of stamps (and letters) have tanked.

Austpost however is probably the only organisation with a physical shopfront in every postcode - not even banks manage that, so there’s certainly an issue around funding that in a sustainable way long term.

I still think they need to get their head around holding parcels for collection on say Saturday mornings instead of wasting the couriers time attempting to deliver to homes on weekdays when 90% of the time no one is home.

A model like FedEx of having a depot servicing a larger area might be ok if they can reliably deliver as well as FedEx does, but that’s unlikely in Austposts case, many seem to be incompetent.

[GrahamL]

These things scan multiple items at once at fairly high speed 2000/3000 hr wouldnt be impossible, the database is only looking for things that shouldn't be there most items just pass straight through things that dont get looked at by a person and if needed added or fine tuned to the info already stored
Aside maintenance and the makers remote access from whatever country they are in ,people dont have much input.

[Tropo-Bob (Bob)]

Originally Posted by Imme

Agreed!

$7 per item, 300 items per hour scanned (at a guess)......that’s $2,100 per hour......operator gets say $50....where does the rest go?

Pensions, hospitals, defense, roads, education .... its actually nowhere near enough to allow these to be funded in the way that I would like. (PS: I am not a pensioner).

[N1 (Mirko)]

Originally Posted by Imme

Agreed!

$7 per item, 300 items per hour scanned (at a guess)......that’s $2,100 per hour......operator gets say $50....where does the rest go?

Try post #13

[N1 (Mirko)]

John you have a valid point but I'm not sure that people buy stuff overseas to save money do so because they have the money to do so

Originally Posted by The Mekon

those who choose to buy items from overseas (and have the money to do so) can get their stuff cheap?.