30 July 2000

Crean's Knowledge Gap

The Shadow Treasurer, Mr Simon Crean, today proved to his embarrassment that he does not understand the new tax system and 'rollback' is a lame joke.

Mr Crean was asked a simple question about his 'rollback' of GST as it affects charities and showed once again how fraudulent it is.

Mr Crean was asked by Glen Milne on Channel 7 "As part of rollback would you let charities account on a cash basis if their turnover was greater than the general limit of a million dollars?

Mr Crean said "That's one of the options that we could consider in relation to charities."

Again asked by Mr Milne, "So, you would look at that would you?" Mr Crean replied " It's one of the considerations that we're prepared to keep in mind."

Mr Milne was right to point out that under the legislation (section 29-40 (2)) charities are already able to choose cash accounting no matter what their turnover is.

Mr Crean and his leader have been saying for months now that they want to 'rollback' the GST on charities. Yet their first nominated 'rollback' is a proposal already provided by the existing legislation.

So intent has he been on running a totally negative and fraudulent campaign that Mr Crean has not bothered to understand the legislation.

'Rollback' is a lazy device to cover a lazy Opposition which has no idea of tax policy.