Peter Garrett MP
Member for Kingsford Smith
Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Reconciliation and the Arts

“Treasurer Peter Costello has been presented with a great opportunity to show his commitment to Reconciliation,” Peter Garrett said today.

“Advice received by the NSW Government from the Australian Tax Office (ATO) that the return of wages by the Aboriginal Trust Fund Repayment Scheme will be subject to tax means the Treasurer’s time to deliver for Indigenous Australians has come.”

“If Peter Costello is serious about Reconciliation he will direct the Tax Commissioner to review the Treasury advice to the NSW Government that if payments are deemed to be for wages, then the Commonwealth will expect to receive its usual tax on these ‘wages’ regardless of how long they have been held in trust.”

“I am disgusted at this blatant grab for cash by the ATO on the payments, ranging from $2,000 to $16,000, intended for Aboriginal people who had this money taken from them by governments over decades.”

“The Treasurer should provide an assurance that all money paid to claimants will not be subject to tax.” 

“Representations have been made by the NSW Special Minister of State, John Della Bosca, to the Commonwealth for a waiver of tax in these circumstances, but as yet he is without reply.” 

“Peter Costello walked for Reconciliation, but will he take a stand and support those long suffering Australians in their bid to be fairly treated in this matter?”

Contact: Andrew Palfreyman

[In the initial version of this Press Release we said that Peter Costello walked across the bridge for Reconciliation. We had the wrong city, he marched for Reconciliation in Melbourne.]