ACS Condemns GST on STD Calls
Sunday 13 September 1998 - The Australian Computer Society (ACS) has attacked moves by the Howard Government to apply the proposed GST to STD and mobile services as devastating news for the bush.
Prime Minister Howard revealed the impost during a radio interview in Melbourne on Friday. ACS President Prins Ralston said by taxing their communications, the Government was hitting rural Australians where it would hurt them the most.
"While we welcome the news that local calls will be exempt from a GST, this means little for remote users, who will bear the brunt of cost increases not only for long distance and mobile telephone calls, but also for access to the Internet and other data services," he said.
"Banking, education, e-commerce and entertainment services are increasingly being delivered across the telecommunications network and it is critical that regional users retain access to the same array of services as city populations.
"City users should also be aware that the price of Internet services will also inevitably rise with Internet Service Providers passing on the impact of GST increases in STD and other service costs."
Mr Ralston said the Government had failed to recognise the critical role the telecommunications infrastructure would play in the lives of all Australians in the next millennium and needed to make services more accessible, not less.
"Australians already pay a comparatively high price for telecommunications services. We cannot afford to discourage rural communities from participating fully in the information age," said, asking what the National Party was doing to allow this measure to be introduced unchallenged.
"During the Telstra privatisation debate, there was great concern about the potential for cost increases and the effect that would have on the bush. While National Party leader Tim Fisher says he can guarantee petrol prices won't rise because of the GST, why isn't he also making the same commitment on communications services?" he asked.
This media release is located on the ACS Web site at www.acs.org.au/news/gststd.htm
ENDS
Media Enquiries:
Prins Ralston, ACS President, Tel: (0411) 755 069, Email: p_ralston@ntu.edu.au
Caroline New, Caroline New PR, Tel: (02) 9980 8060 or (0411) 889 456, Email: cnew@acslink.net.au
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