The Government believes that explaining the biggest tax reform package in

Australian history is important. It has a responsibility to inform business and consumers

about it. Business and consumers require information about the changes so they can

adequately discharge their responsibilities under the law.

Giving out information on tax changes was a policy followed by the Labor Government

where the minor changes which it put in place were backed with significant communications

and information programs.

In any event the Labor Party wants to have the new tax system fully explained and

installed so it can take advantage of it if it is ever elected. Mr Crean can hardly

complain about an information campaign on a tax system which he wants to inherit and keep.

For the record the figures in a press release by Mr Crean today are, as usual, a

mismash of misunderstanding and misrepresentation. They add together four year programs on

ATO communications to one year programs on ACCC price surveillance. In addition it

completely misunderstands the nature of the private sector delivered education programs.

These programs are delivered by the private sector to their members and are not

advertising campaigns. They are rendered by industry associations on compliance issues not

on advertising.

27 April 2000

Media Contact : David Alexander (02) 6277 6390