Government. Oz Style 2. Liberals and Fees for No Service.

In response to my piece of the past few days about the in justice of Australian government, reader, subcriber, and mate RM sent me this tale of an Australian business person. Gender genericised to protect the innocent.

Let’s just call this person Sucker von Australis - SVA.

It seems that SVA had a financial services business in Australia. And much like most commerce in Australia, you can’t feed yourself or your family without prior government permission. In this case, SVA needed an Australian Financial Services Licence. A product of the systemic reregulation of business project led by John Winston Howard through the passage of the 2001 Financial Services Reform Act.

But thanks also to the wisdom, judgement, and general scumbaggery of former Treasurer Scott Morrison and Finance Minister Matthias Cormann, there was a system of “ASIC” cost recovery introduced. It must be nice for Matthias, having flown about on the taxpayer coin, in the government jet, to lobby for the tax free head of the OECD. Perhaps he may join Joe Hockey’s Bondi Partners Lobby Shop when he finishes up in Paris.

But continuing. Under Prime Minister John Howard, you needed permission to feed yourself. And under Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, you needed to pay to play. Yes. Even before generating a dollar of revenue, you needed to pay the government for the licence the government demanded you have.

The Australian Liberal Party. The beacon of free enterprise.

The cost of ASIC cost recovery in 2024 - $91.

The cost of ASIC cost recovery in 2025 - $812.

That’s an 800% increase over 1 year. Slighly more than inflation.

Where is Peter Dutton calling price gouging? Where is David Littlepround calling for ASIC to be broken up.

Moving on.

Now it seems that SVA’s business was sufficiently damaged by Australia’s red tape, green tape, high tax, and anti profit environment, that the business was wound up.

But even though, ASIC is still demanding its pound of flesh. It’s now a creditor.

Might that be called Fee for No Service?

Where are the hollars for a Royal Commission? Where are the Parliamentary Committees?

Moral to the story? Set up a fish and chips shop while offering NDIS plan management services and under the counter un taxed ciggies.

And before you ask - this is a real picture from a real fish and chips shop.