The Abbott government insists it will not make any changes to the GST without the support of the community, parliament and the states.
It’s also standing by a pledge not to change the tax before the next election, likely in 2016.
Several government backbenchers in recent days have argued the GST base should be broadened to include fresh food, health care and education expenses.
That’s led Labor to liken the discussion to the orchestrated campaign for a GP co-payment before the 2014 budget.
But acting treasurer Matthias Cormann, who is also finance minister, denied this was the case.
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“No change to the base, no change to the rate of the GST, full stop, end of story,” he told ABC radio today.
Cormann said the government was at the beginning of a conversation with Australians about how the tax system could be improved, and made simpler and fairer.
“There shouldn’t be any confusion at all.”
The government will wait for its review of the tax system to be completed before making any decisions on the GST.
Any proposal would then have to have the support of the community, parliament and the states, Cormann said.
