Northern Territory Government Fuel Tax Hypocrisy

The Chief Minister's call for the Federal Government to drop its excise on fuel should be matched by her call to remove Territory Government Taxes and Charges from fuel. Currently the Territory makes about 19 cents per litre through GST and excise revenues.

"The Territory makes about $12 out of a tank of fuel in taxes,” Jodeen Carney said.

"For the Chief Minister to demand that the Federal Government drop its taxation income from fuel without doing anything about her own taxes and charges demonstrates an astonishing level of hypocrisy.

"Before coming to office she made much political mileage out of fuel prices and at that time she laid the blame squarely at the feet of the Territory. That was when fuel was less than a dollar per litre.

"Now she is in power she is raking it in. She is in charge of the highest taxing Territory Government ever. Her GST income has returned hundreds upon hundreds of millions of extra dollars. Territorians will get power bills with an announcement of a 2.6% increase this month and she has the audacity to blame the Prime Minister for the cost imposts of living.

"Naturally, I would be happy to see the Federal Government provide relief to Territorians by lowering its excise. I would be just as happy to see the Territory do it. Ms Martin could offer Territorians relief right now as she promised to do so in 2001 or she can just continue to play the blame game and take no responsibility.”

2006-08-03