The Australian federal government is planning a full assault on the black or underground economy by appointing a taskforce who will consider the future of the $100 note and bans on cash payments over a certain level. Australia, like everyone else, is facing a monetary crisis whereby the current system of taxes and social programs with pensions are colliding and will simply collapse. This idea of perpetual borrowing cannot be sustained. Instead of reforming the system, they prefer to attack the people, as always — we are just the enemy.
The Australian black economy of unrecorded economic activity that is untaxed by government is estimated to be worth $21bn or 1.5% of gross domestic product. Even if they got all the taxes that they think they deserve, it would still not solve any problems. We are simply doomed and the longer governments postpone real reform, the worse the collapse will be.
Former KPMG Global Chairman Michael Andrew will head the new underground economy taskforce, which I suspect is one reason to think twice about KPMG. It will also include the Australian Tax Office, Reserve Bank of Australia, the Australian Securities and Investment Commission, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Center, and immigration and human services departments. They plan on considering the continued use of the $100 note of which there are $30bn in circulation. They are also looking to France, a fantastic role model, where the government banned cash payments of over €1,000.
The taskforce is looking at putting a limit on cash transactions, and they are no doubt keeping one eye on how India’s cancellation of currency with no notice works out. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the nation that the cancellation of the currency would protect the interests of “those citizens earning honestly and with hard work.” Modi’s actions are sending probably more than 400,000 people into unemployment while shops have closed as they are unable to collect money or pay workers.
