Media Release

Peter Gutwein MP
Shadow Treasurer

Saturday 5th 2011

Giddings confirms tax hikes on the cards

Tasmanians should be very concerned by comments reported today from Lara Giddings. The Premier and Treasurer is quoted as saying that raising taxes is “in the tool box”.

On the 27th of January, the Tasmanian Liberals questioned whether the Labor-Green Government would raise taxes to cope with the budget problems they have created; questions that were met with deafening silence.

It appears we now know why.

Tasmanians are already dealing with a cost of living crisis and if the Labor-Green Government puts taxes up it will hurt our economy, destroy jobs and send businesses and families to the wall.

One of the reasons why Lara Giddings is considering tax hikes is because over the past few years the budget has been out of control.

Over the past few years, the Government has spent nearly $800 million more than it budgeted. If Labor and the Greens actually knew how to stick to a budget we may not be in this mess now.

It’s clear that Lara Giddings is now considering taxing Tasmanians more to make up for her poor financial management record.