3% GST rate freeze proposal defeated

Deputy Geoff Southern.

PROPOSALS to freeze GST at 3% until 2013 have been defeated in the States less than a month before tax rises are proposed in the Budget.
States Members voted 29 to 21 to reject the proposal to freeze the controversial sales tax, which was part of an alternative deficit package recommended by Deputy Geoff Southern.
Debate on the proposals – which included dealing with the deficit over five years not three, and using interest from States reserves to help fund the delay – took just two hours, with most parts of the proposition defeated by heavy margins of between 20 and 30 votes. (from JEP)

Ah well looks like GST will be going up...