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GST Hike Ruled Out By Labor

Labor Shapes For Election Fight Over GST
GST or Goods and Services Tax alphabet letters with Malaysian currency. Concept of Government Service Tax. Slightly defocused and close-up shot.
awiekupo via Getty Images
GST or Goods and Services Tax alphabet letters with Malaysian currency. Concept of Government Service Tax. Slightly defocused and close-up shot.

SYDNEY -- The federal opposition says it's happy to fight the Turnbull Government at an election over a hike to the GST amid reports of plans to increase the tax to 15 percent.

News Corp Australia is reporting on Sunday that the federal government plans to lift the GST from 10 percent to 15 percent, with treasury officials said to be working on different reform options.

The potential GST changes, along with compensation for households earning up to $100,000, are reportedly under renewed consideration by the Prime Minister.

Responding to the media reports, acting opposition higher education spokeswoman, Amanda Rishworth, said Labor opposed any increase to the tax.

"We are very concerned about the proposal to jack up the GST by 15 percent," Rishworth told ABC television on Sunday.

"The biggest impost will be borne by low and middle income earners. What we know at the moment, wages are not keeping up with the cost of living. This would be a bigger impost.

"We are happy to go to the election opposing the Liberal Party's plans to jack up the GST."

She said a GST hike would unfairly hit low income earners.

"(The) GST is a regressive tax which will be borne by middle and low income earners. That is unfair," she added.

According to NewsCorp, the increase in the GST would serve to help fund a shortfall in health and education spending.

There have been calls from some of the states, including South Australia and NSW, to open a debate about whether the GST should be lifted.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, meanwhile, argued that GST affects poorer people disproportionately and opposes any increase.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten also hit out at rumoured plans to increase the tax.

The federal government has been sought for comment on the issue.

Greens MP Adam Bandt urged the government to crack down on banks, miners and multinationals, rather than boost the GST.

What about fairness?? Let's make banks, wealthy miners & multinationals pay more tax instead of lifting the GST pic.twitter.com/eaCHhsiHmD

— Adam Bandt (@AdamBandt) October 31, 2015

Federal Assistant Treasurer Kelly O'Dwyer didn't rule out a GST increase, saying the nation's tax system needed to get "fit for purpose".

"What we're doing is creating the right incentives for Australians to work more, to save more and to invest more so that we can grow our economy and create more jobs," she said.

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