Peter Costello (Higgins, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

sugar-growing areas for their representations in relation to the levy. The levy’s abolition has been received as great news for sugar growers and manufacturers. This is an example of the great policies of the coalition government.

There are other tax proposals around at the moment which should be striking fear into the hearts of business. One of them that does strike fear into the hearts of business is right here in the Australian Capital Territory. The ACT government has so mismanaged its budget that it has now announced a new tax relating to infrastructure on unleased ACT land. Companies which want to invest in new infrastructure, such as gas, electricity, water or telecommunications, will be hit with a new tax relating to the size of their infrastructure footprint. The more you invest, the more you will be taxed.

The rate to be applied per kilometre of infrastructure has not been announced, but the ACT government expects to collect $8 million in 2006-07, rising to $16.5 million in 2007-08. Who would think of introducing a new tax to tax, per kilometre, the installation of electricity, water or telecommunications? What sort of a government would do that? As the Daily Telegraph calls the Chief Minister of the ACT, ‘John Stanhopeless’ has thought up a tax on direct infrastructure. What a mockery this makes of the Australian Labor Party. The member for Lilley wanders around the country crowing on a daily basis about the need for more infrastructure.

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