USU Pre-Australs 2023: Round 5, Room 2170

USU Pre-Australs 2023: Round 5

Info Slide: Malaysia has a federal system of government. Historically, the federal and state governments have operated together as essentially a unitary state given the dominance of the Barisan Nasional at both a federal and state level. However, in recent years, the political landscape has changed such that the federal and state governments are often run by seperate parties with seperate agendas. State governments are excluded from imposing the most significant forms of taxation, notably income taxes and excise taxes (taxes on the sale of certain goods). As a result, local governments rely heavily on land and natural rescource taxes. The state governments have control over local land use policy, particularly over forestry. Malaysia has experienced large environmental problems, notably with deforestation and pollution.

Motion: That Malaysian State Governments should be able to implement income and excise taxes

Affirmative: USU 1 (Isabella Freeland (r), Eugene Bakker, Charlie Ryan)

Negative: USU 2 (Daniel Yim (r), Sophie Shead, Udai Kamath)

Adjudicators: Jordyn Gibson (c), Kevin Lee, Sansiddho Maity

Winner: Negative (2-1) split

*Debating at university is a recreational activity. Speakers do not select the motion, or the side of the topic they speak on - these are assigned to them. Views expressed in these videos should not be taken to necessarily reflect the views of the speaker.