New taxes talk dismissed
The Age
Monday December 21, 2009
TREASURER Wayne Swan has dismissed as speculation, but not ruled out, the prospect of the Federal Government's landmark tax review proposing a brace of new taxes on land, resources and road congestion.The review, headed by Treasury secretary Ken Henry, was claimed in a newspaper report yesterday to be considering such taxes in its document, which goes to the Government soon.Asked about the report of new taxes yesterday, Mr Swan said: "The Henry review is not yet with the Government. As I have said on so many occasions there will be speculation about what may or may not be in the Henry review."The Government would deal with the review early next year. "It is far too early for people to be reaching any conclusions," he said.The Government was serious about having "the most significant review of the tax system in 50 years. There will be some matters we can act on in the near term, some matters we can act on in the long term and there will be some matters with which we don't agree," Mr Swan said.As Mr Henry puts the final touches to his ideas to shake up the tax system, his own department has come under fire from big business for failing to combat red tape.The chief executive of the Business Council of Australia, Katie Lahey, said the annual report from the Office of Best Practice Regulation showed the Government was failing to follow its own rules in targeting the regulatory burden."It is especially disappointing that the Treasury was the worst offender against the best practice requirements," Ms Lahey said.The Treasury more than any other department should be able to assess viable options, she said.
© 2009 The Age