Re: Good News for Rail Fuel taxes

["Bill MIller" <backtran@optusnet.com.au>]

Unfortunately the original proposal was for rail to pay the same as trucks
(the result they now apparently have), the rail industry was pushing for a
100% reuduction in excise, since rail is an "off road" user of diesel, the
excise being a road user charge. If true, this result is not good news (I
did not hear the speech), it is very bad news, with Howard giving it a
positive spin!


David Bennetts wrote in message <374f1908.0@newshost.pcug.org.au>...
>In his speech last night, the PM John Howard announced that rail would now
>be eligible for the same reductions in fuel excise which will apply under
>the GST regime to heavy road vehicles, ie those over 20 tonnes generally
and
>between 4.5 tonnes and 20 tonnes in country areas.   At least this goes
some
>way to restoring a level playing field.  Under the original plans, rail
>would have been paying 16 cents per litre more for diesel fuel than the
>heavy road transport industry.  Onya Meg!
>
>Regards
>
>David Bennetts
>
>