The Government will be passing on the sales tax receipts from the sale of the Elton John tribute CD produced in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, to charity.
Diana, Princess of Wales, demonstrated a strong commitment to the work of many worthy charities. The Government considers that it is fully appropriate that the sales tax revenues derived by the sale of the tribute CD be on-passed to charitable organisations associated with the Princess of Wales or to approved trust funds established in memory of the Princess of Wales for such purposes, in fitting memory of her charitable work.
This will be achieved by way of an ex-gratia payment, for charitable purposes, which would represent an estimate of the sales tax levied in Australia on the Elton John tribute CD to the Princess of Wales. The amounts of money involved will be determined by the number of CDs sold. Details of the specific recipient charities are still being finalised.
The Government also welcomes the reported move by many Australian retailers, and the distributor of the tribute CD, to pass on the profits to the favourite charities of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Melbourne
18 September 1997
Contact: Richard King (03) 9650 7274 or 0419 683 586