Equally well said re-elected George Town mayor Bridget Archer acknowledging this fact in a similar statement the next day (The Examiner, November 8)

Despite attempts by ‘some’ self serving councillors to bury the issue significant concerns remain within the community regarding the financial drain on their already limited financial resources in having to prop up excessive and unnecessary councils.

The Local Government Minister, Peter Gutwein, should have the courage to take the appropriate steps necessary  to resolve the matter.

Council amalgamation has been implemented in Victoria and New South Wales and, apart from a few teething problems, has been generally successful.

Despite the positive comments from Councillor Archer, due to self interest and preservation, it will never happen here if left to the 29 councils our miniscule population is currently lumbered with.

BILL Shorten’s - no refund of imputed company tax policy for those with less than 30 per cent marginal tax rate essentially means he is defining that company tax on company profits is to be paid at a rate of 30 persent and not less than 30 per cent.

Company tax then becomes defined, correctly I believe, as being paid in the hands of the company.

These franked dividends are from the after-tax profit of the company.

This understanding seems to have been lost in translation which is a worry if the tax experts have really, not understood what they have been doing since 1987.

He is also saying that more tax might be due if the shareholder has a marginal tax rate that is higher than the company tax rate.

The high-income earner marginal-tax effect.

Unfranked dividends (incurring no tax liability) seem to be some technical effect of accountancy.

So for example, a company might pay a dividend out of reserves and no company tax will be involved as no profit was made.

There can therefore be no company tax credit associated with such dividends obviously.

Low income earners would therefore need to consider whether a franked (net cash only) dividend is better than some other form of investment, maybe bank interest, given their own income level tax rates.

So, Bill was right and most everyone else, including me, has stuffed up it seems. Pity he didn’t explain it better at the time though.

Who’d be a politician?

I’M LEFT bewildered with how on earth fuel costs are set. I fueled my vehicle on November 2 at Kings Meadows and diesel was around $1.70 per litre ($1.80 at Newstead).

I made my way to Queenstown then over to Strahan where diesel was $1.64. On Saturday, I drove up to Zeehan and refueled and diesel was $1.66.

How on earth can fuel be cheaper in remote areas and dearer in cities. 

It appears that some major distributors may need price fixing. This really needs investigating by the motoring body.

AFTER an exchange of letters in this column, the CEO of a local community care provider and I (a researcher) decided to submit future letters together.

We share the same values that older people must have choices; access to quality affordable care, be assisted to stay at home as long as possible and supported within chosen environments.

Our professional experiences embrace the good and the not so good issues related to care both residential and in the community.

Issues that one day may affect most readers of this newspaper.

Recent issues described by Mrs Stewart (The Examiner, November 6) included her unhappiness and regret accepting a care package.

She explained her beliefs that the provider fails to meet promised expectations, unreasonable package costs (and nursing home costs) and her mind-set of being a captive.

Mrs Stewart, it is crucial to talk with your provider.

Many providers will wave certain fees and many no longer charge an exit fee.

Your budget will show funds held by the organisation as these should cover the exit fee.

Everything should be negotiable and you are not legally bound to continue with this provider.

If you need assistance doing this, contact the National Aged Care Advocacy Program on 1800 700 600.

If you still cannot resolve issues: My Aged Care 1800 200 422 and the Aged Care Complaints Commissioner 1800 550 552.

As we have pointed out in previous letters, there are excellent providers and you have every right to be cared for and about according to your wishes.

Others within the community need to speak out about their experiences (good and bad) with constructive suggestions.

Like Mrs Stewart, there are many people either unhappy with their package or waiting too long for a package.

Then, there are many who value highly their package and carers.

The more information you have, the better informed you will be and more able to choose which provider will suit your unique needs and wishes.