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In brief: Aus moots one-off flood tax

Friday 21 January 2011 - by Will Henley

Devastating floods in the Australian state of Queensland could force the Government to impose a one-off levy on companies or individuals, the country's Prime Minister has indicated.

Addressing the media on Friday, Julia Gillard said she could not rule out introducing the tax to pay for the flood damage, which analysts say could run into billions of Australian dollars.

"This is going to require some difficult decisions," Gillard said. "There will be spending cutbacks and there may also be a levy."

"I am working on those decisions now and when I'm able to I will announce them at the appropriate time. We obviously have more work to do, we don't have the total damage bill yet."

Opposition leader Tony Abbott however immediately hit out against the idea.


"What this government has got in stall for us next year is plainly three new taxes - a carbon tax a mining tax and now a flood tax," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

"I'm opposed to unnecessary new taxes and that's what this is."


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