Cabinet papers show govt held marathon meetings ahead of GST roll out

Almost 20 years since the introduction of the Goods and Service Tax (GST), Australia's longest-serving treasurer has revealed how onerous it was to sell the reform to his colleagues and the public. Cabinet papers released today show Coalition MP's held marathon meetings over many months in 1998, which Peter Costello told Sky News had been the key to getting the policy right. The Coalition narrowly won the 2008 election after then prime minster John Howard promised to implement the GST if his government was re-elected. After a marathon negotiation period with the Australian Democrats, the GST was finally implemented in 2000 and remains in place today. Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au