SKIP TO MAIN CONTENT

Govt offers Xenophon sweet deal on tax cut

Treasurer Scott Morrison has used a South Australian chocolate-maker to win over the Xenophon team to back the government's company tax cut plan.

Nick Xenophon Team leader Senator Nick Xenophon
The government is courting the Nick Xenophon Team over Senate backing for a company tax cut plan. (AAP)

2 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Skip to article content

The Turnbull government is in talks with the Nick Xenophon Team over Senate backing for the entire rollout of its plan to cut the company tax rate.

And it's using a sweetener in the form of Haigh's Chocolates to win over the South Australian group of three senators.

NXT has all but scuttled government plans to lower the tax rate for all companies from 30 per to 25 per cent, insisting it will only support a cut for those with an annual turnover of less than $10 million.

Treasurer Scott Morrison, who met with Senator Xenophon on Wednesday, said there was nothing new about the NXT's position which it had held since the July election.

In a bid to win over the group, Mr Morrison used Haigh's as an example of a company with a turnover higher than $10 million.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

"That company now obviously wants to continue to do well in South Australia and they would benefit from the corporate tax rate being reduced," he told ABC radio on Thursday.

"Haigh's Chocolates is not Microsoft."

Haigh's is the oldest family-owned chocolate maker in Australia, employing more than 500 people in its Adelaide factory and retail stores there and in Melbourne and Sydney.

Mr Morrison said he was pleased crossbench senators, including NXT, have indicated support for a tax cut for small businesses.

"I take that as a positive," he said.


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world