Labor slams government tax plan adverts

The federal government is spending more than $23 million on marketing its tax policies, attracting the ire of the Labor opposition.

CHRIS BOWEN PRESSER

Labor's Chris Bowen says ads promoting government tax policies are a 'blatant waste' of money. (AAP)

Labor says a $23.5 million campaign to promote the federal government's tax policies is a blatant waste of taxpayers' money.

The "tax integrity information campaign" includes the Better Tax website and a range of other materials which promote personal income tax cuts, business tax relief and measures to ensure foreign and big business "pay their fair share".

Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen said the ads failed to mention most of the $140 billion cost of the income tax package does not flow until 2022 and 2024.

"This is a blatant waste of taxpayers' money spent on government propaganda and the latest case of the Liberals' 'never let the truth get in the way of a good story' moniker," Mr Bowen told AAP.

He said the pre-election spend sits alongside the scandal surrounding Liberal MP Tim Wilson's economics committee, which is probing Labor's franking credits policy.

The committee has been accused of promoting Liberal Party membership and compelling hearing attendees to sign a petition opposing Labor policy.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the campaign had been declared compliant with government guidelines on information and advertising by an independent committee.

"These are important reforms for the community to understand as they simplify a tax system which is often viewed as being overly complex," he told AAP.

Mr Frydenberg said lower taxes were being delivered to 95 per cent of taxpayers and three million small businesses.


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2 min read
Published 15 February 2019 3:46pm
Source: AAP


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