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Belad Al-karkhey

Former Greek minister's wishlist for Australia

Greek ex-MP Yanis Varoufakis has shared his ideas for shaking up Australia's tax system and economy. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

In the world of Yanis Varoufakis, Australians would have an account with the nation's central bank, receive the going interest rate on their savings and pay nothing for digital transactions.

If that wasn't enough the former Greek finance minister would reverse the government's  "absurd" practice of collecting more money from higher education loans than it gets from a petroleum resource rent tax.

While he's at it, negative gearing and the capital gains tax exemption on real estate profits would be abolished.

As for corporate giants - especially those with concentrated power to set prices - Varoufakis would "tax them through the nose".

The economist listed his wish list at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday, the final stop on his speaking tour around Australia.

Mr Varoufakis, who holds an Australian passport, served as the Greek finance minister as an economic crisis swept the European nation in 2015.

Elected to Greece's parliament in January of that year, he worked in the government of former prime minister Alexis Tsipras before resigning five months later.

At the time, Greece was facing a financial crisis which included a $3 billion debt to the International Monetary Fund and criticism of its failure to address tax evasion.

In his speech, Mr Varoufakis urged Australia to end its dependence on fossil fuels and unrefined minerals.

Instead it should "let rip" with solar and wind power that produces green hydrogen.

"This country needs a massive public investment project, a latter-day version of the 1950s Snowy Scheme," he said.

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