Yesterday Andrew Barr was celebrating Standard and Poor’s AAA credit rating of the ACT Government.
But the Liberals have found things to like in it too:
In an embarrassing disclosure for ACT Labor today, ratings agency Standard & Poor’s has confirmed that the ACT Labor Government is proposing to phase out duties over a 10 year time frame and replace them with a ‘broad-based land tax,’ according to the ACT Deputy Opposition Leader Brendan Smyth.
“Despite all the denials from Katy Gallagher and Andrew Barr, the report from Standard & Poor’s states clearly that Labor’s tax reforms will be phased out over 10 years and the revenue that is lost will be replaced by increases in general rates,” Mr Smyth said.
“The statement from Standard & Poor’s validates the claim that has been made by the Canberra Liberals that any loss of revenue from tax reform will be made up by increasing general rates – and this will result in rates tripling.
UPDATE 28/09/12 11:20: Andrew Barr is tweeting his dudgeon:
@The_RiotACT Taxation reform will take place over the next 20 years. Reform will be implemented in five year periods. http://t.co/aivX0VWd
— Andrew Barr MLA (@ABarrMLA) September 28, 2012
@The_RiotACT The Liberal lie, no matter how often repeated, is still a lie. The only thing tripling is Seselja's nose.
— Andrew Barr MLA (@ABarrMLA) September 28, 2012