I believe the reason Ms Lees is blamed for killing the Democrats is that before the election I recall many Democrats announcing that they would never vote for a GST on books. (i have searched for evidence but have been unable to find any records from the Dems from that election) They got my upper house vote as I saw them as a stop gap against the GST. The vision of Ms Lees with her chesire cat smile as she walked out of negotiations will haunt all those who voted for them.

“Consideration was given to applying a tax on “consumption” so if you bought a Maserati you paid the appropriate consumption tax. “

If you buy a car for work then you can claim it as a business expense. I would think this would cancel out the GST. That could be why tradies now drive luxury imported utes.

The GST worked in distancing rich from poor. How many small businesses had their cash flows decimated? How about the pensioners who got eight dollars or so extra a week but saw their expenses double? How about the NSW government who collect money for the other states?

It worked for some but not for many.

Also I thought it was going to be the answer to tax evasion for ever. Wickenby anyone?