An Australian news roundup

Sexy tax deductions: "Prostitutes, strippers and lap dancers can claim tax deductions for adult toys and lingerie, officials said Friday, as the Australian Taxation Office issued a list of deductible items for the sex industry. Condoms, lubricants, gels and oils are among a myriad of other items that these workers can claim against tax, according to a fact sheet issued on the office's Web site. While they cannot claim deductions for fitness classes that keep them in shape, the tax office ruled they can claim the cost of dance lessons. "You can claim the cost of replacing or repairing things like equipment, adult novelties and other apparatus used in your work," the office advises, under a section titled "tools of trade." "This is just another one of our occupational lists that we put together to help people," a taxation office spokeswoman said on customary condition of anonymity."








Arty farties snob the people's painter A petition calling for Pro Hart's works to be hung in the Art Gallery of New South Wales will be tabled in State Parliament today. The petition was circulated by western NSW MP Peter Black after it was revealed the nation's galleries either did not have any Pro Hart works or were not displaying what they had. More than 600 people signed the petition and Mr Black says he was surprised by the response. "The pages are something in the order of half an inch think and I thank everybody that is supporting this particular project because at the end of the day it will benefit Broken Hill," he said. "Pro Hart put it on the art map and many people come to Broken Hill for various reasons, including going around the art galleries." Mr Black is highly critical of the gallery director Edmund Capon's attitude to Pro Hart's works. "I am looking across the Domain as we speak and looking at the art gallery ... I am well reminded of the outrageous statements about the quality of Pro Hart's work and, of course, I don't know how he can live with those statements given the auctions that we have had in recent times and the record prices that Pro Hart paintings are getting."






Huge leaping croc shocks scientists: "An airborne four-metre crocodile has made scientists' hearts skip a beat during research on the Ord River in the far north of Western Australia. Scientists had been using an electrical current to temporarily stun fish, so as to study them. But they accidentally sent a shock wave through a nearby crocodile. Scott Goodson from the Department of Environment says the jumping croc gave everyone a start. "He breached the water, he got a metre out of the water, that's a big croc!" he said. "He got a fairly good tickle up, I would have thought!" Mr Goodson says the reptile is probably just a bit stunned after the accidental shock treatment. "He's probably taken off and just kicking back behind another rock, I don't think he will come too close to that boat again," he said. "There was a lot of people stepping back, that's for sure!"

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