[Greens-Media] No tax cuts for rich - Greens

[Oquist, Ben (Sen B. Brown)]

Tuesday, 30 August 2005

No tax cuts for rich - Greens

We will move to shut down rorts - Brown

There should be no tax cuts for the rich, Greens Senator Bob Brown said
today.

Senator Brown challenged claims that Australia is highly taxed (in 2002
we were 8th lowest of 30 OECD nations), or had super high top personal
income tax rates (France 42.6%, Germany 45%, Italy 45%).

"Australia needs to curb the tax rorting of the rich which the
Australian Council of Social Services identified as getting $8.2 billion
in unfair tax breaks in 2004.," Senator Brown said.

"Cutting taxes equals cutting services.

"In a country which needs to spend more on schools, hospitals, public
transport and overseas aid there should be no tax cuts for the rich.

"The combined cost of the 2004 and 2005 tax cuts for upper income
earners will be $4.08 billion in 2005-6 and $6.23 billion in 2006-7.

"Rather than satisfy the thirst of the greedy, this has simply provoked
calls for more.

"The Greens will move to amend any tax-cut legislation by tightening up
on diversion of income by high flyers through private company lurks -
estimated to be costing Australia $1.3 billion per annum," Senator Brown
said.


Further information: Prue Cameron 0362341 633 or 0408473379