1
PRIME MINISTER
STATEMENT BY THE MRME MINISTER, THE HON P J KEATING MP
HOWARD'S CONFIDENCE TRICK ONl SAVINGS
John Howard's mail out of hNs plan to tinker with fte tax rate on savings Is more
t~ i'n Just a serious campaign blunder. It Is also seriously dishonest
Wr Hoard's letter apparently sent to mrilions of voters trumpets the
aJncouragemrent of savings ' by cutting the tax on savir43s interest bry up to 2-5 per
cant*" WhAen asked today to detail this hitheio secret policy. Mr Howard refused, saying
the detail would be relesed asoon". Mir Howard may havw got away with this
tactic eight monits trom the electon but eight days from t election it is a
national disgraice, and an insult to the voters of Austalia.
In his fumbling ellouls, to cover his error today, Mr Howard revealed the planned
tax break on savings will be means-tee Yet his Wete to hundreds of
thousands at voters made no mnention of this. Indeed, to compound the
confidece trick. the letter described the pokiy as being part of a " plan for all of
us. Moct of the people who received Mr Howard's shifty letter would reme" v no tax
break whatever on their savings. Mr Howard has tried to play than off, and he
has bean cauight out.
Television news reports tonight have suggested the tax break will be a ftve per
cent reduction In the tax rate on interest income for those on incomes below
about $ 35,000. Why were these details omitted frn, Ilk Hmwdrs letter?
At his amgingly em'banrassing media conference today, the following uncmplete
question Was put lo AN Howard by a journalist " If you're telling voters you're
going to give them savings up to 25 per cent but yours not tWing them ifs meanis
tad isnm that..? r
Let me complae the sentence: Isn't that dishonest?
% Wa maks all of this worse is tOa Mr Howard knows he canrnot pay for such a
Schieme at any price.
MELBOURNE 23 FEBRUARY 1996
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Keating, Paul
Period of Service: 20/12/1991 - 11/03/1996
Find more information on Keating, Paul on the:
Release Date:
23/02/1996
Release Type:
Media Release
Transcript ID:
9949
Document:
00009949.pdf
1 Page(s)
Released by:
- Keating, Paul John
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P J KEATING MP HOWARD'S CONFIDNECE TRIC ON SAVINGS
9949