No increase in GST: Abel

DEPUTY Prime Minister Charles Abel says there has been no increase in goods and services tax (GST) this year.
He said they turned down a recommendation from the Tax Review Committee to increase the GST.
“And so there is no increase in GST this year,” Abel said.
Abel, who is also the Treasurer, responded to former review committee chairman Sir Nagora Bogan, who had claimed that the Government had increased GST from 10 per cent to 15 per cent.
Abel has asked the media to verify facts before publishing such claims.
“Whilst the Tax Review Committee chaired by Sir Nagora had recommended an increase in GST, the Government had not accepted this approach. As such, there has been no increase in the GST rate from 10 to 15 per cent. Rather than increasing the tax burden, the Government is trying to improve its tax collection and trying to grow and broaden the economy to create jobs and grow government revenue so services can be improved.”