The government has called an election and is now in caretaker
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Media releases
1998
Productivity Commission Research Report on the Impact of Commonwealth Indirect Taxes on Exporters
The Productivity Commission report released today provides compelling evidence that our present system of indirect taxes is penalising exporters and putting a brake on economic growth.
Preliminary 1997-98 Budget Outcome
Preliminary estimates for 1997-98 indicate that the underlying budget was in surplus by $1.2 billion. This represents a $6.1 billion improvement over the 1996-97 outcome.
Tax Reform Plan Media Lockup
The Prime Minister and the Treasurer will be releasing, subject to final Party
Room approval, the Governments Tax Reform Plan at 4.00pm AEST on Thursday
13 Aug 1998.
Productivity Commission Inquiry: Progress in Rail Reform
The Productivity Commission will conduct an inquiry into progress in rail reform and report within twelve months.
Foreign Investment Case: Tyndall Australia Ltds Portfolio Investment in John Fairfax Holdings Ltd
The Government has decided to raise no objections under foreign investment
policy to a proposal by Tyndall Australia Ltd (Tyndall), and its wholly owned
subsidiaries, to acquire a portfolio
Treasurer Announces New Jobs for Burnie
The Treasurer today announced the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) would establish a telephone call centre in Burnie resulting in the creation of around 40 new jobs for the city.
Consumer Price Index - June Quarter 1998
The June quarter CPI outcome is another excellent result and continues the exceptionally good inflation performance of the past two years.
Press Release - Petroleum Marketing Reforms
The Government today announced a reform package for the petrol industry in moves designed to cut prices for consumers.
Appointments to the Payments System Board and Closure of the Australian Payments System Council
The Payments System Board (PSB) has been established as part of the Governments financial sector reform program.
Prices Oversight of Sydney Airport
In June 1997, when the Government privatised the Phase I airports, I announced details of the prices oversight regime that would apply to core-regulated privatised airports.
Productivity Commission Inquiry into Residential Aged Care Subsidies
I have today asked the Productivity Commission to report within six months on subsidies to providers of residential aged care.
Tax Rebate For Landcare
Farmers undertaking landcare projects will gain substantial tax rebates through new provisions made under the Natural Heritage Trust.
Changes Improve The R&D Tax Concession
The Treasurer, Peter Costello, and the Minister for Industry, Science and Tourism, John Moore, today announced measures to streamline and improve the research and development tax concession.
Treasurer Heralds New Era for Financial System Regulation
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) commence operations today following the historic overhaul of the nations regul
Appointments to the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority
A key element of the changes to the regulatory structure provided for in the Governments financial sector reform program is the creation of a new organisation, the Australian Prudential Regulation
Another Step Forward For Australia's Space Industry
The Federal Government has granted a wholesale sales tax (WST)
exemption for space launch vehicles and satellites. The exemption applies to vehicles and
satellites actually launched.
National Competition Council Appointment
The Treasurer, Mr Peter Costello, today announced the appointment of Dr Paul Moy as a Councillor for the National Competition Council. The appointment is on a part-time basis until November 2000.
Australian Financial Support for the Heavily Indebted Poor Country Initiative
Australia will be making a financial contribution through the IMF and World Bank to an initiative to help people in the very poorest countries of the world.
National Accounts: March Quarter 1998: Strong Growth
Todays National Accounts confirm that the Australian economy is growing strongly with growth of 1.3 per cent in the March quarter 1998 and 4.9 per cent through the year.
Katherine and District Business Re-Establishment Trust Fund
I am announcing today that the Government will amend the law so as to exempt from income tax the grants paid as part of a business re-establishment package to eligible businesses and primary produc