No GST rift, says Hockey

21 Jul 2012, 1:19 pm   -   Source: AAP
Shadow treasurer Joe Hockey has rejected claims of a rift within the coalition. (AAP)

Shadow treasurer Joe Hockey has rejected claims of a rift within the coalition. (AAP)

Opposition Treasury spokesman Joe Hockey has rejected claims of disagreement within the coalition on increasing the GST.

Shadow treasurer Joe Hockey has rejected claims of a rift within the coalition over an increase to the GST.

Mr Hockey said the coalition was united in opposing any increase or extension to the GST.

"The coalition view, clearly stated on a number of occasions, is that it will not further burden Australian households already hit by Julia Gillard's carbon tax," he said in a statement.

"Any suggestion otherwise is an outrageous and false claim by Labor."

The Australian newspaper reported on Saturday that Mr Hockey had opened the door to an increase in the rate of the GST, unchanged at 10 per cent since it was introduced by John Howard in 2000.

Mr Hockey said the obvious point was that the GST is a tax collected on behalf of the states and it would be up to the states to convince the public to support any change.

"But it will not be a federal coalition government making any change to the GST. Unlike Labor, we will deliver what we promise," he said.

AAP m

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