End family tax benefits, say Liberals

The Liberal party's key policy-making body in Victoria is being asked to vote on abolishing family tax benefits.

Members of the Victorian Liberals are seeking an end to family tax benefits and a strict cap on all federal government spending.

The Victorian Liberals' state council will meet in Melbourne this weekend to hear from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and other senior figures in the party, as well as debate a number of resolutions.

The Young Liberals' policy branch has submitted a motion to abolish family tax benefits.

The background to the motion, published in the council agenda, says FTB - introduced by the Howard government - represents "the absolute worst of middle class welfare in Australia".

It suggests the government instead cut income taxes.

The branch also calls for a ceiling of 20 per cent of GDP in public sector spending, down from about 26 per cent now.

It says the current spending figure is "reckless and unsustainable".

Federal government spending has not been that low since the 1970s.

There are also calls to abolish tax on alcohol and luxury cars.

The Camperdown branch is calling for a flatter income tax and company tax system and the broadening of indirect taxes such as the GST.

It says high marginal tax rates and bracket creep are penalising Australian workers and encouraging tax minimisation.

The Kingston Heath branch says the party should ensure all federal election policy costings are released in time for the start of pre-poll voting.

"The Liberal Party - as the standard of responsible politics - should lead by example and release our policies and costing well before polling day," the branch says.

Mr Turnbull will address the council meeting on Saturday.


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Source: AAP



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