KEY POINTS:
Thursday's Budget has narrowed the income gap between New Zealand and Australia, but most if not all demographic groups would still be at least marginally better off across the Tasman.
An analysis for the Weekend Herald by Institute of Economic Research economist Patrick Nolan found that a sole parent working part-time or a retired couple would be only slightly better off in Australia - by 1 per cent and 6 per cent respectively.
A family on a six-figure income with three young children would be about 13 per cent better off.
A two-income couple, each earning just over the average wage, would be a massive 23 per cent better off.
The calculations for the 2009-10 tax year take account of changes in last week's Australian Budget as well as Finance Minister Michael Cullen's tax cuts unveiled on Thursday.
Dr Nolan said the figures were "conservative". They assume New Zealanders in paid work could earn only 20 per cent more in Australia. In fact, the Australian average wage of A$1175 a week is 30 per cent higher than the local average of $904, without allowing for the exchange rate.
The calculations are also based on the buying power of a New Zealand dollar being 95 per cent of an Australian dollar, as measured by a basket of goods and services. In contrast, the money markets yesterday priced the kiwi at only A82c.
This month's Budgets in both countries cut income taxes.
In New Zealand, the bottom tax rate was cut from 15 per cent to 12.5 per cent on incomes up to $14,000. Above that, the tax scale for 2009-10 will be 21 per cent up to $40,000, 33 per cent up to $70,000 and 39 per cent above that.
In Australia, the new Labor Treasurer Wayne Swan announced a tax scale of zero up to A$6000, 15 per cent up to A$34,000, 30 per cent up to A$80,000, 40 per cent up to A$180,000 and 45 per cent above that. He also almost doubled a low-income tax rebate which means people earning up to A$14,000 will pay no tax at all.
The net effect was that the Australian tax scale remains much more "progressive" than the New Zealand one, with less tax on low incomes and more tax on high incomes.
That is why a two-income couple on the average wage would be relatively better off across the Ditch than the family on a six-figure income, who would be hit by Australia's high tax rates at the top end.
On the other hand, New Zealand has a relatively generous retirement pension, and Working for Families gives much bigger income top-ups to working families with children than such families could get in Australia at the bottom of the income scale.
