[Greens-Media] Roozendaal fiddles as tax base burns

[John Kaye]

Roozendaal fiddles as tax base burns
 
Media release: 13 August 2009
 
NSW is the only state that failed to make a submission to the Henry review of Australia's taxation system, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.
 
As Treasury heads from Commonwealth, state and territory governments meet in Canberra today, Dr Kaye said: "NSW Treasurer Eric Roozendaal left this state unrepresented in the root and branch review of Australia's tax system.
 
"Every other state developed a special purpose submission to put the case to protect its own revenue base and its share of Commonwealth funding.
 
"All that the Rees government could do was recycle a report commissioned in 2007 that only looked at state-based taxes and charges.
 
"Treasurer Roozendaal's failure to develop a case for NSW has left this state without a voice at the table in the biggest change to tax collection and distribution since the GST was introduced.
 
"This is a re-run of the Infrastructure Australia submissions debacle. NSW lost out on funding for important projects because the Rees government's submission was inadequate and poorly presented.
 
"Now the state is at risk of losing billions of dollars because Treasurer Roozendaal was asleep at the wheel.
 
"NSW Treasury head Michael Shur will be the laughing stock at today's meeting in Canberra.
 
"NSW Treasurer Eric Roozendaal has been derelict in his duty to protect the people of NSW," Dr Kaye said.
 

For more information:  John Kaye 0407 195 455
 
 
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John Kaye
Greens member of the NSW Parliament
phone: (02) 9230 2668
fax: (02) 9230 2586
mobile: 0407 195 455
email: john.kaye at parliament.nsw.gov.au
web: www.johnkaye.org.au
 
mail: Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000