FED: Government discussing possible changes to tax = 2

AAP General News (Australia)
04-19-1999
FED: Government discussing possible changes to tax = 2

Labor senator and inquiry committee member Stephen Conroy said he would raise accusations
of bias today against some members of the committee secretariat.

Senator Conroy said Labor had wanted some key modelling on the GST but the secretariat told
economists there was no need to do it.

"We just think that conduct like that by the secretariat, with no reference whatsoever back
to the chair of the committee, is outrageous and partisan," he said.

He said Treasury had admitted on Friday it had done some early modelling on the GST but had
then stopped.

"Why would they stop unless the material that was supplied out of that modelling was very
bad for the government."

But he denied the opposition was holding secret talks with key independent senator Brian
Harradine to have the GST changes passed.

National Party senator Bill O'Chee said the report would not show anything new.

"There is already an enormous amount of fat in there; now if we have to put more fat in,
well that's another matter," he said.

"But nobody can say this package is unfair."

Australian Democrats senator Lyn Allison said the party would not budge on having food
excluded from the GST.

"I would criticise the ALP for not wanting to take part in the debate. I think they are
looking forward to a GST being introduced and winning an election on the basis of it."

AAP rmm/kr

KEYWORD: TAX SENATE 2 CANBERRA

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