FED: Lees plays down differences with ACOSS over tax plan

AAP General News (Australia)
02-15-1999
FED: Lees plays down differences with ACOSS over tax plan

Australian Democrats Leader MEG LEES has downplayed differences between her party and the
Australian Council of Social Service over how to exempt food from the GST.

The Australian newspaper says the ACOSS position to swap income tax cuts for tax-free food
has effectively been rejected both by the Democrats and Treasurer PETER COSTELLO.

Mr COSTELLO has told the paper the plan will penalise low and middle-income earners to
deliver a tax benefit on food which will go overwhelmingly to the well-off.

Senator LEES has also criticised the ACOSS proposal but says the Democrats have not
rejected them totally.

AAP RTV msl/mcm

KEYWORD: TAX ACOSS (CANBERRA)

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