1 June 2014
The North West Star
CHAIRMAN of the Joint Select Committee on Northern Australia Warren Entsch has tabled Mount Isa City Council’s petition with more than 4000 signatures in support of zone tax allowances.
Mr Entsch tabled the 4146 signatures calling on the “Australian government to amend the zone allowance to make zone A $10,000 taxable per year, with other zones adjusted accordingly, and that the zone allowance be indexed on an annual basis”.
Mr Entsch congratulated the council for its strong level of advocacy on the issue.
“As the Chair of the Joint Select Committee on Northern Australia, I have to say that zone tax allowances and special economic zones have come up consistently in submissions during the public hearings,” he said.
“The zone offset has been around since 1981 but the failure to index it means that it is not fulfilling its purpose of enticing and retaining population growth in regional and remote areas.”
Mount Isa Mayor Tony McGrady said he was delighted the committee had made special mention of the issue.
Courtesy of The North West Star