Labor released its tax policy 16 day ago. It could have been submitted for costing any day since then.
There are 16 days to go in the 2004 election campaign and Labor is still hiding the policy from independent public scrutiny.
There is nothing stopping Labor submitting its tax policy for costing today.
Mark Latham this morning has now conceded that it would submit for costing only elements of Labor's hastily cobbled together tax and family policy.
Today Show 23/09/04
Leibman:"Ah, you say due course, when? There's only two and a half weeks left in the campaign."
Latham:"Well we've already lodged 44 policies and sometime next week we'll be doing some more and that'll include elements of our tax and family policy…."
The truth is that Labor has submitted none of its election policies for costing, just its proposals to cut or change existing Government programs. None of its tax policy has been submitted to the Treasury.
Meanwhile Simon Crean has also conceded that the package may be flawed, admitting they would adjust the package if Treasury found problems.
Simon Crean on Early AM 23/09/04
"Obviously if Treasury finds problems with the figures, we will make adjustments accordingly."
But Labor is refusing to allow the Treasury to cost the package. This follows Labor's refusal to submit policies for costing in sufficient time during the last election.
What have they got to hide?