The Queensland Premier's claim that the Federal Government wishes to
unilaterally increase the rate of the GST is totally false.
The rate of the GST is set in concrete at 10 percent under a Coalition Government. We will not increase it.
It could be increased by a future Labor Government needing the extra money to finance the GST rollback promised by Mr Beazley.
No doubt the Labor governed states would happily oblige a future Labor prime minister in his desire to increase the GST.
The Private Member's Bill to which the Queensland Premier has referred is precisely that - a Private Member's Bill. It has not been endorsed as government policy.
The Federal Government remains fully committed to the inter-governmental agreement signed by me and the premiers. It will not be breached by us. Mr Beattie knows that. His statement today is nothing more than a Ryan by-election stunt.
It remains the case that states other than Queensland can provide petrol price relief. This can be achieved without any breach of the inter-governmental agreement.
10 March 2001