Unions to fight for fair tax reform
Unions have committed to fighting tax policies that benefit corporations but ignore around 11 million low and middle-income workers who face a significant increase to their cost of living under a GST increase.
The ACTU Executive passed a resolution to campaign strongly as part of the Build a Better Future campaign for a tax and revenue system that ensures everyone pays their share.
Current tax reform measures being pushed by business groups and the Federal Government focus on increasing the GST – under the guise of funding health, education and other critical social services – but are more likely to fund cuts to corporate tax rates and personal income tax rates which disproportionately benefit the wealthy.
Around 11 million workers – some on wages as low as $35,000pa – will see their cost of living skyrocket.
“One in five private companies with annual revenue of $100 million or more pay no tax at all, while workers, families, small businesses and students who pay their fair share face a GST hike,” said ACTU President Ged Kearney.
“The Government must remove current corporate loopholes that enable private corporations to minimize tax.” “We shouldn’t have to pay more GST to make up for the shortfall,” said Ms Kearney.
