The subject of GST has never been too far from the States Chamber.
The original proposition to adopt the 3% tax was made in May 2005 (the very first proposal was for a 5% rate, with exemptions for food and children’s clothes). Since then the States have debated exemptions on food at least five times.
In the run-up to last year’s elections the exemptions were defeated by the tightest margin possible – an even vote – but a more recent proposition failed by 29 votes to 21.
States debates were also held on whether prices displayed on goods should include GST or not, on the amount of support that poor people should get to cover the costs of GST, and on when the tax should be levied from.
Chief Minister Terry Le Sueur (pictured) has a long track history with the sales tax – he was re-elected in 2005 after successfully proposing the tax, and was the Treasury Minister when it was brought in.
He says that the resistance to the tax both in the States and among the public appears to have dropped off since GST was introduced.
