For Treasurer Jim Chalmers to say that it was ‘simpler’ to just give everyone the energy rebate of $75 per quarter is stupid but honest (yes Jim, very simple!). But to say the ATO does not have the ability to means test taxpayers is a lie. The ATO knows very well everyone’s: bank balance, interest earned, employment income, dividends earned on share portfolios, income from rental properties and foreign income. We know this because we see these amounts of income appear automatically in our tax returns.
I will be returning each $75 paid by the ATO back to them, as I do not need it. I ask everyone to ask themselves the same, and also repay each $75 as a clear message to the treasurer that he got this payment of taxpayers’ money completely wrong.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
