FED: Government receives Henry report on tax reform

AAP General News (Australia)
12-23-2009
FED: Government receives Henry report on tax reform

SYDNEY, Dec 23 AAP - The federal government has received the report of the Henry tax
review but will not give its initial response until early next year, Treasurer Wayne Swan
says.

Mr Swan on Wednesday said he had just been handed the final report from the 18-month
inquiry into the nation's taxation system, but he would not be commenting on it until
early 2010.

"This is a comprehensive report, the product of thousands of submissions, public consultation
... the product of an enormous amount of research and consultation," he told reporters
at Sydney airport.

"There will be enough time for that (comment on the report) in the new year, when we
will release the report as well as the government's initial response.

"Needless to say, the priorities for this inquiry were a fairer tax system, a simpler
tax system and a more competitive tax system, and I certainly look forward to the debate
in the new year about the recommendations."

Mr Swan thanked the community for its input, noting 1,500 formal submissions and 4,700
letters had been provided to the review team, which held discussion forums around the
nation.

"The one thing you know about tax is that everybody's got a view," Mr Swan said.

He thanked the five "eminent" members of the panel, namely Treasury secretary and review
chairman Ken Henry, Jeff Harmer, John Piggott, Heather Ridout and Greg Smith.

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KEYWORD: TAX SWAN

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