To offset this extra expense to the rich, Joe Hockey has been noted saying that he wants to cut the top income tax bracket, because the rich are apparently paying too much tax.... because, you know, every rich person is actually paying that full 47% tax rate and struggling.
(tax deductions, tax-havens, profit-shifting to trusts, Super accounts and off-shore branches of their own business, etc, allows the uber-rich to pay a lower percentage of tax than people in the lower tax brackets... after all, the rich and the friends of the rich get into politics to create the Tax laws that allow them to make millions in allowances, and then avoid having to pay as much tax as the rest of us)
If Hockey needs an incentive for people to work harder without being slugged in taxes, then maybe cut the tax rates for the lower brackets, who don't have the money to move into tax-deductible programs or the accountants needed to facilitate tax avoidance for a hefty (yet cheaper than a tax bill) fee.
With this guy also wanting to be OUR Prime Minister, as the Australian figurehead on the world stage, the next federal election should be interesting.