The Queensland Party is opposed to the imposition of a new tax or levy on struggling business and communities.
Aidan McLindon, the Queensland Party Leader, has instead pointed out that the state could be assisted to rebuild after the devastating floods by pulling out of the unfair GST arrangement which will see Queensland lose nearly $2.5 billion. Mr McLindon added that the proceeds of any new mining tax, which will target industry in Queensland, should also be redirected back to the state.
The Queensland Party candidate for Cairns, DJ Hunt, has also insisted that Queensland is being forced to hand back too much of its GST revenue as part of the Commonwealth’s health takeover and that it was being used to subsidise other states when it could no longer afford to do so.
“Right now Queensland needs real assistance, not another tax or levy. It needs the State Government to be strong for Queensland during the recovery and it needs the Federal Government to stop using Queensland to subsidise other states,” said Mr Hunt.
End the Unfair GST Arrangement
As part of the Federal Government’s health takeover, Queensland is handing back over 40% of its GST revenue to Canberra, although it was widely reported states would give up only one-third of their GST funding. In fact, Queensland is the only state required to hand back this amount of GST revenue and its payment is set to increase to 43.6% in 2012. By contrast, New South Wales is only required to pay 30.2% of its GST allocation and Victoria must hand back 24.6% of its revenue. Tasmania’s payment is half of Queensland’s requirement at just 20% of its GST funding.
“The Queensland Government cannot afford to pay over 40% of its GST revenues back to the Commonwealth now, especially when all the other states are paying back smaller percentages,” said Mr McLindon.
“By ending this unfair arrangement, Queensland’s bottom line would be boosted by the $2.5 billion which it had lost to subsidise pork-barreling in other states, and it would regain control of its future.”
“It is unfair for Queensland to be subsidising the other states at any time, and especially so after these devastating floods. I call on the Prime Minister to end this unfair arrangement and for the Premier to look at securing assistance for our state today and into the future by insisting that Queensland is not gouged while it rebuilds.”
Instead Direct Funding to Queensland from the New Mining Tax
Mr McLindon pointed out that Queensland could also be helped by the ensuring that funds from any new mining tax were directed to help rebuild the state’s mining communities.
“I would cautiously support the mining tax, if it goes ahead as agreed with the mining industry prior to the federal election. Funds from this tax could then be used to help rebuild damaged infrastructure in Queensland. After all, it is only because the people of Queensland built the infrastructure that there is any industry to tax,” said Mr McLindon.
Mr Hunt added, “People struggling to get their livelihoods back on track, those who have lost everything they own, and businesses that are suffering can’t afford to pay another tax or levy if they’re not earning money. This is a simple, painless step the government could take that is financially responsible and goes a long way to achieving the same outcome.”
* WA refused to sign up to the GST deal as it left the state worse off.
No comments:
Post a Comment