Fed: Bracks says fed govt can cut price of petrol

AAP General News (Australia)
08-22-2000
Fed: Bracks says fed govt can cut price of petrol

MELBOURNE, Aug 22 AAP - The federal government could cut 2.4 cents a litre off the
price of petrol to honour its promise the GST would not force up fuel prices, Victorian
Premier Steve Bracks said today.

"There's essentially an immediate step available to the federal government to reduce
petrol prices in Australia," Mr Bracks told Melbourne radio station 3AW.

"That's a very simple matter. It doesn't require an inquiry, it doesn't require the
ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) or the Senate to investigate.

"And that's simply to take off 2.4 cents a litre, which would then enable them to honour
their promise that the introduction of the GST will not cause extra excise or extra taxes
on petrol."

Mr Bracks said the GST had added 2.4 cents to the cost of a litre of petrol.

"That's more taxes that are being collected by the federal government after GST has
been introduced on petrol," he said.

Mr Bracks said a Senate inquiry into petrol was "a second-best option" and it was preferable
the ACCC looked into the matter.

AAP tsc/jd/cd

KEYWORD: PETROL BRACKS

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