It’s been floating around for awhile but now it’s official. Digital goods offered by overseas providers into Australia (such as Netflix and Amazon) will be slugged with the 10% GST. Movies, music, games, television shows and books offered by overseas providers like Netflix, Amazon, Google Play and Steam will all increase by 10% on July 1st.
Speaking with itnews, Treasurer Joe Hockey said “What we’re doing is going to digital providers overseas and saying ‘can you apply the GST to the products you provide into Australia?” Companies such as Netflix have already stated they plan to comply with the request once local regulations were in place. A spokesman for Netflix added: “Netflix has been and will be compliant with all applicable laws and regulations, and pay taxes as required under local and national law.”
Netflix’s local competitor Presto welcomed the tax as it was “critical” all players operate by the same rules.
Good news for those who buy physical goods from overseas retailers – those items will remain GST free, as long as the total cost does not exceed $1000. Playstation, Xbox and Apple Itunes users will also be happy to know there will be no increase as the GST already applies.
How do you feel about the new so-called ‘Netflix tax’? Sound off in the comments below.
Kurt (Chris Colfer) and Blaine (Darren Criss) Cuddle Up in the Glee Season 5 Finale -Source Provided
Does anyone still watch Glee anymore? It’s a fair question to ask now that the phenomenon that was once everywhere and totally unavoidable has seemed to slowly fade away and die off. The show that gave us the term ‘Gleeks’ and were constantly featured in the iTunes singles and album charts and even gave us a 3D concert movie now no longer seems to have the pulling power it once had.
Here in Australia, the musical comedy drew big ratings for network ten, but now, 5 seasons on, the show has been relegated to the channel’s second station – Eleven, with the season 5 finale airing tomorrow night, May 16th at 7:30pm.
Remember the last time Glee appeared in the iTunes charts?
So the question begs to be asked. What happened? Have audiences grown too old for the show? Did Glee jump the shark somewhere along the way? Could the death of star Cory Monteith play a part in people turning off?
Either way, die-hard Gleeks will be happy to know that they still have at a minimum another 13 episodes for the final season.
X-Factors Three Finalists Dami, Jai and Taylor Photos provided Channel 7 2013
Finals fever is in full swing for singers Dami, Jai and Taylor as they fight to earn the title of ‘winner of X-Factor Australia 2013’. The final three were announced as the finalists last Sunday night which saw the judge made group Third Degree (and Nat Bass’s last hope) leave the competition cementing the final three.
Who should win?: I’d personally love to see Dami win. When looking at whose music I would buy, of the three singers, Dami’s music appeals to me more. Add into the fact she’s an incredible singer who has barely taken a wrong step this competition, will have high marketability overseas and has never found herself in the bottom two sing-off. For a girl who was almost left out of the finals (one of Dannii’s final three chose not to take the coveted spot) and who forgot the lyrics during the process, Dami stamped herself as the one to beat after her first weeks cover of U2’s ‘One’.
Who will win?: Jai has got the tween vote covered and he’s what Justin Bieber was 4 years ago and he’s filling that spot sorely missed by almost every teenage girl Australia wide. It was a smart move keeping him in the competition, keep the viewers watching, but he has been constantly out sung and performed week after week and the last two weeks, he has begun to show that on a maturity level, at 14 years of age, he’s not ready for what a win will bring him. I just hope he’ll have the support for when he does.
What about Taylor?: I’ve loved Taylor and his music since his appearance on Australia’s Got Talent back in 2010 in which he made the finals. Taylor’s tone is impeccable and just a dream to listen to and I would happily buy whatever he brings out, but against Dami and Jai’s supporters and his bottom two appearance last week, I’m expecting Taylor to place third. That said, aside from some shaky starts and bouts of self doubt, has proven himself worthy of a solo career after the show. I’d be surprised if he and his music didn’t take off after the show. Along with Dami, he’s been a constant on the iTunes Australia singles charts.
Speaking of iTunes appearances, I have to wonder just how different the results would be if iTunes purchases were put towards votes like that of The Voice. We already know, Taylor’s version of Girl’s Just Want to Have Fun was sitting number 1 (now currently 8th) and Dami and even Third Degree have constantly charted….just saying, why emphasize the iTunes charts if, in reality, they make no difference to voting results.
Either Dami, Jai or Taylor will be crowned this years winner of The X Factor Australia in a star studded spectacular finale onMonday at 7:30pm after the three perform for one final time on Sunday Night at 6:30 on Channel 7.
UPDATE:
Last nights finale preview lead-up saw just how affected by nerves some of the contestants are. Taylor Henderson managed to miss the cue for his first song, singing out of time during the first chorus before catching up only to once again, make a critical error during his final song where he completely forgot the lyrics to Damien Rice’s Blower’s Daughter. Doesn’t matter anyway, Dami’s final performance and the final song of the night made sure everyone was talking about her. Her rendition of I am Telling You from the Dreamgirls soundtrack was nothing short of mesmerizing.
As noted above, Dami deserves the win. Last night should have proved it, and her possible winners single, was easily the best of the night.
Side note – The One Direction performance…prerecorded. Not sure why or when is was filmed.
The winner is announced, tonight on Channel 7 at 7:30pm! GO DAMI!
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