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Happy 25th birthday to Australia’s GST. It’s time to grow up

ANALYSIS: Inland Revenue has suggested New Zealand increase its GST from 15% to 18%. In Australia, where many items are GST exempt, the politicians are terrified to raise it above the current 10%.

WATCH: NBR senior journalist Lachlan Colquhoun speaks with Simon Shepherd.

It would be a strange kind of birthday to celebrate, but July 1 marked the 25th anniversary of the introduction of Australia’s Goods and Services Tax.

At the time, the tax was highly controversial. Although former Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating advocated the idea in 1985 when he was Treasurer,

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Lachlan Colquhoun Wed, 09 Jul 2025
Contact the Writer: lachlan@nbr.co.nz
News tip? Question? Typo? Let us know: editor@nbr.co.nz
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Happy 25th birthday to Australia’s GST. It’s time to grow up
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