Wednesday 27 February 2013

The thieves at the top are after our cash

Talk about a desperate, cash-strapped  Federal Government. Where is our money safe these days (under the mattress?). The old saying "Safe as a bank" apparently no longer applies if you stash your cash in an interest bearing account and leave it for a rainy day:



HOUSEHOLDS face losing up to $109 million from their family savings as the Federal government moves to seize cash from inactive bank accounts.
After legislation was rushed through parliament, the government will from May 31 be able to transfer all money from accounts that have not been used for three years into their own revenues.
This will mean that accounts with anything from $1 upwards that have not had any deposit or withdrawals in the past three years will be transferred to the Australian Securities and Investment Commission.
The law is forecast to raise $109 million this year as inactive accounts for three years or more are raided by Treasury. OPINION: Just another boost for the coffers
The money can be reclaimed from ASIC but the process can take months.
Experts warn this will have a negative impact on people that may have put money away in a special account for their children's education or decided to put an inheritance in a separate account for a rainy day.
The previous legislation allowed for bank accounts to remain inactive for up to 7 years before the money was transferred to ASIC.
Do you have a bank account you haven't used for three years? If so, contact us at stephen.mcmahcon@news.com.au Australian Bankers Association chief executive Steven Munchenberg said there is no benefit for consumers from the changes.
"It is very hard to see why this needed to be rushed through but there have been suggestions it was done more for the government's own financial circumstances rather than customers needs," he said.
Mr Munchenberg warned that unaware customers face having accounts frozen and could face months of delays trying to reclaim their won money from ASIC.
This cash grab comes as economists warn the government is on track to hand down a $15 billion budget deficit in May as company tax receipts collapse.
Before Christmas, Treasurer Wayne Swan junked the government's previously "rock solid" promise to produce a surplus in 2012-13.
The government had also been committed to surpluses in future financial years, too.
But despite the introduction of some tough cost-cutting measures, the latest research from global bank UBS forecasts the May budget will show a $12 billion black hole in revenues and cost overruns of about $3 billion. The biggest pain is coming from the expected $8 billion fall in taxes from the corporate sector.


4 comments:

  1. So this latest cash grab will raise almost as much as the infamous mining tax has. That was supposed to rake in around $3 billion the first year. What next, a raid on kids' piggy banks?

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  2. Bit like a parent with a gambling addiction smashing the kids piggy bank. This parent (Gillard Govt) addiction is spending and they are gambling with this nations future.

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  3. Hi Dale let's hope the voters go 'Cold Turkey' come September!

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  4. Gillard and all her Ministers should all re-locate to Rooty Hill. It's an apt place for a government that is clearly rooted.

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