2015-11-03
Greens spokesperson for Finance, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, said that raising the GST is regressive, unnecessary and its impact will fall heavily on Tasmanians.
Senator Whish-Wilson said, “Raising the GST will impact disproportionally on those on lower incomes.
“Tasmanians, who on average have lower incomes than those on the mainland, will be hit relatively harder than anyone else from this poorly thought-out tax hike.
“The Government removed a carefully crafted carbon price that was effective in getting the polluters to pay for a reduction in pollution, and now they are looking to plug the hole they created in their own budget by raising or extending the GST.
“Tasmanians benefited massively from the introduction of the carbon price through hundreds of millions of dividends flowing from Hydro Tasmania. Yet now we not only have lost these dividends but will have to fill the revenue shortfall from this decision out of our own pockets.
“There are so many options available for the government to raise revenue if they are willing to make those who can afford to, pay their fair share.
“Restoring a carbon price, winding back negative gearing and restoring integrity to the superannuation system would raise tens of billions of dollars. The government doesn’t need to look at slugging those who can afford it least and slugging Tasmanians with a GST hike,” he concluded.