Premier wants greater analysis of Fed.Govt/Democrats GST deal

28/5/99

COMMENT BY PREMIER RICHARD COURT ON TAX TALKS BETWEEN THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE DEMOCRATS
"I am not prepared to support any changes to the proposals already agreed to by the States and Territories until a full analysis has been prepared by the State Treasury.
"Our major concern is that there has been horse trading with the States' future revenue sources.
"One of the key planks of the package was that it provided the States and Territories with access to a growth revenue and any change to the agreed formula for a Goods and Services Tax is likely to impact on the funds flowing to us and affect our ability to do away with the worst of our State taxes such as FID and BAD.
"The revised agreement sent to us would see the States retaining the debits tax until 2006 and a number of the stamp duties on business transactions which were going to be abolished."
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