No change in date for GST—P.M.

Press, 14 May 1985, Page 8

No change in date for GST—P.M.

PA Wellington The Government would continue with the planned introduction of its controversial goods and services tax on April 1 next year, said the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, yesterday. Speaking at his post-Cabi-net press conference earlier, Mr Lange had suggested the Government might defer the scheduled introduction. He later quashed speculation, however, by issuing a statement in which he said categorically there was no way the Government wanted to move away from an April 1 introduction. “No reason whatsoever

has emerged to change the Government’s target date for the introduction of GST on April 1 next year,” Mr Lange said. “Delay in introducing GST would make people wait longer for their income tax cuts and benefit system reforms.”

He said all administrative preparations were definitely on target for April 1. “Certainly, if excellent reasons emerged for delay, being a sensible Government, we couldn’t rule it out — provided the facts warranted it,” Mr Lange said. “But no such reason has emerged.”