FED: Govt has answers for Harradine

AAP General News (Australia)
04-22-1999
FED: Govt has answers for Harradine

CANBERRA, April 22 AAP - The federal government hopes it can respond to Independent Senator
Brian Harradine's concerns about the GST without making major changes to its tax package.

Senator Harradine outlined his tax wish-list yesterday which includes a demand for greater
compensation for pensioners and people on low incomes.

"There are suggested compensation packages for pensioners and people on low incomes, and I
am quite convinced that those compensation measures are inadequate," he said.

Among Senator Harradine's suggestions is a six per cent hike in pensions rather than the
government's planned four per cent increase.

Treasurer Peter Costello said he was still hopeful many of Senator Harradine's concerns
could be met without changing the tax package.

"We can satisfy many of the concerns that he's raised," he told reporters in Melbourne.

"He sort of raises points about making sure that lower income-earners are better off, and
there are answers on all these points."

Meanwhile, the government's prospects of winning support from the other independent Mal
Colston have been bolstered by the escalation of the Queensland Senator's row with Labor
Leader Kim Beazley.

Senator Colston labelled Mr Beazley politically immature after his offer to negotiate with
Labor on tax reform was spurned by the opposition leader.

Mr Beazley said today Labor would continue its policy of not meeting with the former
Queensland Labor senator, who quit the party in 1996, despite an overture from Senator
Colston.

Senator Colston issued a heated statement in which he indicated he might support the GST
because of Mr Beazley's actions.

The statement said Mr Beazley's attitude was childish and that federal Labor was acting
like a schoolyard bully.

"With Beazley at the helm, they (Labor) can look forward to many more years in the
political wilderness," Senator Colston's statement said.

Meanwhile, detailed consideration of the tax bills has been put off until tomorrow after
the Australian Democrats said their amendments were not ready.

AAP sc/cjh/de

KEYWORD: TAX DAYLEAD

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.