Too soon to tell: Swan stays mum on tax review
Sydney Morning Herald
Monday December 21, 2009
THE Treasurer, Wayne Swan, has dismissed as speculation, but not ruled out, the prospect of the Government's landmark tax review proposing new taxes on land, resources and road congestion.News Ltd papers reported yesterday the taxes could soon be suggested in a document from the review to the Government.Asked about the report 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, headed by the Treasury secretary, Ken Henry, early next year, he said.As Mr Henry puts the final touches to his ideas to shake up the tax system, his department has come under fire from big business for failing to combat red tape.The head 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.The best practice system aimed to ensure that new regulations were a last resort.
© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald