Saturday 3 November 2012

Online GST Fight Has Retail Opponents

Some key executives are telling the retail industry to drop its campaign for GST to be charged on online purchases under $1000.
Billabong CEO, Launa Inman, told a recent conference that the tax on online purchases is just “not going to happen”. “We have to learn to adapt. It is a global world now and our challenge is just to get out there and actually make it happen.” Woolworths super market head, Tjeerd Jegen, said that “retailers shouldn’t ask for increases in taxes for customers”.
However, ARA executive director, Russell Zimmerman, says the fight is still worth fighting. He pointed out that the parcel system first needs an overhaul to handle the surge in international parcels, and then the GST issue can be tackled.