Have your say on the SA bank tax

South Australians are being given the opportunity to voice their concerns about the Government’s plan for a new tax on banks.

The Australian Bankers’ Association’s new website – jobsnottaxes.com.au – launched today, invites the people of South Australia to email local members of Parliament to take a stand against the tax.

“South Australia needs jobs to grow its economy, not new taxes that will undermine this objective,” ABA Chief Executive Anna Bligh said.

“Over the past 10 years, full time jobs in South Australia grew by an average of 0.2 per cent per year, compared with 0.9 per cent across Australia.”

A new statewide Galaxy poll¹ conducted this month shows that 52 per cent of South Australians oppose the tax compared with only 38 per cent who support it. Half of people surveyed believe the tax would negatively impact on jobs in the state.

The website also features new television ads with members of the South Australian community urging the Government to dump the tax and focus on jobs and growth.

“In 2016, the five banks impacted by the proposed tax paid around $1.5 billion in dividends to shareholders in South Australia and lent $10 billion to South Australians to buy their own home,” Ms Bligh said.

“This is a tax on all South Australians and will impact shareholders, customers and bank employees,” she said.

ENDS

Contact: Stephanie Arena 0477 470 677

@austbankers

¹ Galaxy surveyed 801 people in South Australia between 8 – 12 September 2017 via telephone and online.