Tory Shepherd: Plenty on Turnbull’s tax plate, but will he choose GST?

A GST increase is still on the table; but so are plenty of other tax reform tidbits. What he – and his Cabinet – choose will be a crucial factor in this year’s election.

• Jay Weatherill: Turnbull’s gone to water over the GST
• Ross Womersley: We’re not even having the correct tax debate
• Steven Marshall: Raising the GST is just lazy and unfair

A GST increase is still on the table; but so are plenty of other tidbits.

Picture that table as the buffet at one of the old Sizzler restaurants. Steak, seafood, salad.

Superannuation concessions, changes to capital gains tax, closing multinational tax loopholes. They’re all part of the spread. They might be served up with sides of income tax cuts, company tax cuts, and other tasty condiments.

Increasing the GST to 15 per cent is a glistening hunk of meat, with a heat lamp shining down upon it. It’s drawn plenty of attention, including Mr Turnbull’s.

That increase could bring in billions, quickly. Treasurer Scott Morrison has been drooling a little at the prospect.

SA Premier Jay Weatherill may not be a fan of the fast-food style of revenue raising, but he’s prepared to cop a GST in order to get a large side serve - $80 billion for schools and hospitals the Federal Government once promised.

Mr Turnbull, though, is taking his time. He has to put out a tax plan before too long; he won’t go to an election without one. But there are so many choices, with so many different outcomes.

What has happened in the past week is that Mr Turnbull has meandered away from the GST option. It’s still on the table, it always was, but he has a beef with it; it won’t generate economic growth like other choices. He’s casting an eye over the rest of the buffet, maybe thinking about the punter who approached him this week to say: “Don’t fork it up”.

Mr Turnbull’s relaxed demeanour belies the importance of this decision. What he – and his Cabinet – choose will be a crucial factor in this year’s election.

If he picks a GST, he will have to convince his MPs and the public of its nutritional value and weather Labor’s ongoing scare campaign.

If he moves past it, he still has to work out what else to put on his plate. Super, CGT and going after companies all have their own risks.

Still, at least he’ll leave Opposition Leader Bill Shorten down the end of the table, looking forlornly at the lettuce.