The Role of Income Taxation in Natural Resources Management
It is widely accepted that accelerated depreciation concessions, such as sections 75B and 750, are a poor means for government to address environmental objectives. This position is further supported by recent information highlighting the limited behavioural effect of this form of intervention. The continued existence of poorly targeted subsidy measures, in the face of mounting evidence of their ineffectual nature, suggests they are an important source of political benefits. It is further proposed that as assistance to agriculture declines, the political value of 'generic' policies providing economic rents to industry, such as taxation concessions, will increase and potentially impede the development of agricultural-environmental policy. The further point made is that significant environmental gains will be associated with a greater degree of policy complementarity, not only among elements of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936, but among elements of rural policy generally.
Improving the Efficiency of Taxation of Livestock in Australia
In this paper, the neutrality of the income tax provisions for livestock are examined and compared with policies in selected other countries. It is argued that the current system provides significant concessions by deferring the recognition of income. The deferral of recognition of income distorts investment decisions by providing an incentive to invest in livestock which is not available for similar investments. A more efficient system, based in part on the New Zealand National Standard Cost Scheme is suggested, as are possible transition measures.
At the end of the rope: Geophilus hadesi sp. n. – the world’s deepest cave-dwelling centipede (Chilopoda, Geophilomorpha, Geophilidae)
Abstract A new geophilomorph centipede, Geophilus hadesi sp. n., is described from caves in the Velebit Mountain, central Croatia. Together with Geophilus persephones Foddai & Minelli, 1999, described from Pierre Saint-Martin cave in France, they are the only two remarkably troglomorphic geophilomorphs hitherto known. The new species apparently belongs to a group of Geophilus species inhabiting mainly Western and Southern Europe, with a uniquely modified pretarsus in the second maxillae. Geophilus hadesi sp. n. shows unusual traits, some of which commonly found in troglobitic arthropods, including exceptionally elongated antennae, trunk segments and leg claws. The species is described upon specimens found in two caves at a depth below -250 m. Another two specimens apparently belonging to the same species have been recorded in another deep vertical cave at -980 m and -1100 m. The latter represents the world’s deepest record of Chilopoda as a whole.