Tax summit doesn’t address real issues, Crook
Author: Tony Crook
Published on: 01-August-2011
Nationals WA Federal Member for O’Connor Tony Crook MP has taken aim at the Federal Government’s October tax summit for failing to address the most pertinent issues for regional Australians.
Mr Crook said he was very disappointed to see the Carbon Tax, the Minerals Resources Rent Tax, and the distribution of GST revenue would not be discussed at the summit.
“These are key issues for regional Western Australia,” Mr Crook said.
“To hold a Federal tax summit that does not allow discussion on the most important issues for regional WA is quite an indication of how the Federal Government views regional WA.
“There will certainly be a very large elephant in the room if we are attending a tax summit that does not address the real issues,” Mr Crook said.
Mr Crook said the tax summit was negotiated by Independent MPs Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor as part of a deal struck when forming government.
“This tax summit will certainly go a long way towards keeping Mr Oakeshott and Mr Windsor on side with the Labor Government, but it does little else,” Mr Crook said.
“It seems the Federal Government is content to hold a tax summit that only dances around the edges of the real issues for everyday Australians.”
Mr Crook said regional communities and businesses were very concerned about the impact of the Carbon Tax and the Mining Tax.
“In my home town of Kalgoorlie, businesses are very vocally protesting against these taxes, and they have every right to do so.
“Under these new taxes, many families will be worse off to the tune of hundreds of dollars each year, and the economic impact on regional businesses will be even worse.”
Mr Crook said he would continue to use his role on the Crossbench to represent the best interests of regional WA.
“The Carbon Tax and the Mining Tax are two of the most significant issues for regional WA, and to host a tax summit without addressing these issues is a fairly empty charade.”
See this article on the member's website