Release: Foxtel rakes in taxpayer funds after questionable approval

Release: Foxtel rakes in taxpayer funds after questionable approval

The Australian Taxpayers’ Alliance, today called out the federal government for favouring large corporations and engaging in anti-competitive behaviour. The Communications Department fast-tracked 17.5 million in grants for Foxtel bypassing normal cabinet approval processes, after favouring Foxtel’s competitors in a federal support package. 

“The government is attempting to dig itself out of a hole. When policymakers issue subsidies they give specific companies, and industries, an unfair advantage over other businesses,” said ATA Policy Director Emilie Dye. “Handing out more subsidies only makes the problem worse.”

“If the government wants to help businesses get through tough economic times, policymakers should implement broader policies that help all businesses instead of throwing taxpayer dollars at the corporations with the loudest lobbyists.”

“Australian businesses must pay 30 per cent of their profits to the government only to have bureaucrats bypass the required 10 day consideration period to assess large expenditures and spend $17.5 million of their money on their competitors.”

“It is when the government sends out individual grants that we get corruption. During this economic downturn, our policymakers should lighten the burden for all businesses instead of writing checks to a favoured few.”