Should your first $50,000 be TAX FREE? | FUNdamental Fridays

Welcome back to The Hill I’ll Die On, our Friday mini-series inside The Property Couch, where members of the Couch Crew share bold money and property opinions they’re willing to stand behind. In this episode, economist Evan Lucas joins Ben Kingsley to unpack a big one: 👉 Personal income tax in Australia is too high. Evan explains why the current tax system may be discouraging aspiration, distorting behaviour, and pushing people to find ways around it instead of rewarding effort. From bracket creep to incentive structures, this conversation dives into how tax policy shapes decision-making — and why getting the balance right matters for productivity, growth, and opportunity. You’ll also hear ideas on what a better system could look like, including fewer tax brackets, higher thresholds, and shifting how tax is collected. If you’ve ever wondered whether the system is working the way it should… this is a thought-provoking listen. Got a question or a “hill” you want us to unpack? Send it through here 👉 https://thepropertycouch.com.au/topics/ 👍 Like this video if it helped 🔔 Subscribe for weekly insights on property, finance & money management 📲 Start your journey with Moorr: https://moorr.com.au ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:32 – Meet Evan Lucas 01:00 – The Hill: Personal Income Tax Is Too High 01:35 – How Much Tax Are Australians Paying? 02:08 – Why High Tax Changes Behaviour 02:55 – The Problem With Bracket Creep 03:44 – Is Our Tax System Really “Progressive”? 05:21 – Should the First $50K Be Tax-Free? 06:12 – Are High Earners Paying Too Much? 07:05 – Rethinking Tax Brackets 08:04 – Incentives, Productivity & Work 09:48 – What Needs to Change