Barry Haase kicks off another term of broken promises for Federal Liberals

20/12/01
Goldfields-Esperance Minister Nick Griffiths has expressed dismay at an announcement by Liberal Member for Kalgoorlie, Barry Haase MHR, that the Coalition Government was likely to break its pre-election promise of tax breaks for investors in small mining companies engaged in exploration activities.
"The Howard Government stood idly by while the Australian Taxation Office aggressively pursued draconian penalties against ordinary working families in the region who invested in what they thought were approved tax schemes,"
Mr Griffiths said.
"The pre-election promise would not have rectified the mess that the Coalition created by failing to regulate these schemes properly, but at least it would have been a step in the right direction in terms of restoring investor confidence in the Goldfields-Esperance region."
Mr Griffiths said the broken promise announced by Barry Haase demonstrated two key characteristics of the Federal Coalition Government.
"Within a very short time of being re-elected, the Federal Coalition has demonstrated not only its continuing contempt for telling the truth, but also its total lack of regard for people who live and work in regional Australia," he said.
Mr Griffiths said the Gallop Labor Government had made huge efforts to promote economic growth in the Goldfields-Esperance region, including the review of native title negotiating principles in a bid to speed up the settlement of the State's native title applications and the launch of the $75million Regional Investment Fund.
"The State Government is playing its part, but the region needs a fair go from the Federal Government in terms of taxation relief for productive investment," the Minister said.
"I urge John Howard to show some integrity and deliver the promised tax breaks for investment in this critical industry."
Media contact: Minister's Office 9222 8950