How Novated Leasing And An FBT Perk Choked Australian Cars

There has been little sensible discussion about recent changes to FBT rules. Of no help to the discussion has been the wildly exaggerated overstatement by the industry as to the likely impact on the market of these tax changes.

Also not helpful has been the dumbing down of the debate into some screwy sort of class warfare: something about rich dudes with BMWs and Mercs, and not-rich dudes without.

But least sensible among the nonsense being aired is that these changes will somehow nail shut the coffin on the local car manufacturing sector.

Au contraire: history has another view.