A good tax policy can influence a voter’s
choice
Human beings by their very nature are
always hesitant to pay taxes and if the opportunity presents itself,
run away from meeting their tax obligations. Some would involve, at
great expense, master tacticians in devising schemes for tax
avoidance.
Others feel that their hard earned kina should not be paid into a pool
of funds from which the Government draws to provide “services” for
which they never see. There are also others who remain very ignorant
but silently pay the applicable taxes as and when they are faced with
it.
For those who have and are continuously feeling the pains of paying
taxes, and there are a great majority of them, a good tax policy that
provides a cushion on the impacts of taxation or provides some relief
to them would be very appreciated. The tax system we have does not
care whether we are young, sick or old or under some form of
disability or whether we have the means to pay these taxes.
We have paid taxes, are still paying taxes and will continue to pay
these taxes and others that may be imposed in the future for as long
as we live.
There have been occasions where some governments around the world have
been lost as a result of them imposing unfavourable taxation regimes.
There have also been occasions where governments have been formed
through proposed favourable taxation regimes which eventually found
expression in subsequent tax legislations.
In other words, it is possible that voters can influence the outcome
of elections results in this year’s election if they are properly
informed by the different political parties of their policies on
taxation. Papua New Guineans are educated well enough to make informed
decisions on which political party or candidate to vote for in this
year’s election now than ever before.
We have not seen policies, in particular on taxation, being published
widely enough or made available to the wider community by political
parties over the years during the periods of elections. The same can
also be said for this year’s election.
Since the issue of Writs on May 4, we have not seen much being
published in both the print and electronic media on policies on
taxation by any of the major political parties. We have never seen any
constructive political debate on the political parties’ policies on
taxation over the years and that trend is likely to continue during
the election period this year.
Some of the major political parties going into the election this year
have done so with their own policies on taxation. All that is required
is for these parties to sell their policies to the 3.9 million
eligible voters throughout PNG.
Whatever the policies are, these need to be widely circulated, the
voting population must know. The details must be clearly spelt out and
these can be done through both print and electronic media or at
campaign rallies or through visitations to villages, settlements,
council wards or urban centres.
A few days ago, it was reported that Pangu Pati’s candidate for Wewak
Open, Camillus Narakobi, is campaigning with a policy to reduce
personal income tax. We take that to be a policy of Pangu Pati, if it
is, then the party has to provide details and spell out how it intends
to do that to the voters.
We have also seen a policy on reduction of personal income tax in an
advertorial taken out by the leader of the PNG Conservative Party Hami
Yawari recently.
In both instances, what the voting population needs to see is some
thick meat being added on to the bones. They simply will not leave
with the bones. In other words, they will appreciate being provided
with the details on how they would achieve the intended outcome.
We understand that all political parties have polices that will impact
on the current taxation regime. Whatever they are, the 3.9 million
eligible voters need to know.
You have an opportunity to sell your policies in the three weeks
remaining before polling on June 30. How you do that will determine
whether your candidate or your party will get that crucial vote.
by MARK OPUR
