Australian Taxation and Ethics: Colonisation to Costello-Risation

Australia’s taxation policies appear to have had a profound influence on the level of community trust and ethical conduct, or its ‘social capital’. This paper firstly considers the relationship between tax policy and social capital. Secondly, a quick review of the history of Australian taxation is made. Finally, this paper reviews the effects of these policies on the players in the tax system. The paper concludes that weaknesses in Australia’s taxation laws have proved to be highly detrimental to community ethics and social capital.