AUSTRALIA’S WAR DEBT

Grey River Argus, 24 August 1945, Page 5

AUSTRALIA’S WAR DEBT

Uniform Taxation LIKELY TO REMAIN PERMANENT. CANBERRA, Aug. 23. “I believe that the present uniform taxation should remain for all and I believe that the people think so too,” the Prime Minister, Mr. J.. B. Chifley, told the Premiers’ conference to-day. He said he foresaw no prospect that the next Federal Budget would be Ises than five hundred million pounds. Mr Chifley rejected a proposal made by the Victorian Premier, Mr Dunstan, to repeal the Uniform Tax Act. This Act is due to end two years after the war. Mr Chifley said that the Commonwealth now had national debts of 1727 million pounds, and it had war pension and rehabilitation commitments of one hundred million pounds a year. The war had cost the Commonwealth Government between thirteen hundred million pounds and fourteen hundred million pounds) while at the same time, the States’ debts had been reduced by thirteen million pounds. Mr Dunstan declared that the uniform taxation was a step towards abolishing the States. He added: “If there is to be unification in . this country, let us say so; but it should be brought about in a proper way by a referendum, not by strangulation.”

SOMETHING IN RETURN , WEAKER STATES OFFERED FEDERAL AID. (Rec. 10.50) CANBERRA, Aug. 23. The Commonwealth Government to-day offered the States at the Premiers’ conference financial assistance. It would be given the States both for the capital and operating costs of industry so as to further a policy of decentralisation. The Prime Minister declared that decentralisation is essential in the national interest. . Mi’ Chifley said that it was the duty of the Commonwealth to give more sympathy to the smaller and weaker States than to the industrially strong States of New South Wales and Victoria. He said: “The Commonweal th’s assistance is contingent on, firstly, an examination revealing that the success of any project is in the general national interest, and that financial costs involved are substantial: secondly, upon the States undertaking to provide such services and such assistance as may be needed.