Election 2018: Labor Party angered by Liberal Party ‘robocalls’ warning ALP wants to increase GST

SOUTH Australian voters were flooded with Liberal Party “robocalls” last night warning that Labor wanted to increase the GST, as the state election campaign became increasingly ugly.

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SOUTH Australian voters were flooded with Liberal Party “robocalls” last night warning that Labor wanted to increase the GST, as the state election campaign became increasingly ugly.

In an attack similar to Labor’s last federal election “mediscare” campaign, thousands of electronic calls were made across 15 battleground seats just after 6.30pm Tuesday night.

But the “scare campaign” tactic drew sharp Labor criticism last night as it argued the GST claims were wrong and “smacked of desperation”.

The Liberal message, authorised by state director Sascha Meldrum, told voters that Premier Jay Weatherill “proposed increasing the GST from 10 to 15 per cent”.

South Australian voters have been flooded with Liberal Party “robocalls” warning that the Labor wanted to increase the GST, as the state election campaign became increasingly ugly.

“This would have a devastating impact on the household budget,” it stated.

“We can’t trust Jay Weatherill not to introduce more taxes.”

The “robocalls” came amid a wider sharpening of Opposition rhetoric as it launched a wave of negative adverts and messages from leader Steven Marshall.

Ms Meldrum was unavailable while a Liberal Party spokesman declined to comment last night.

Amid a 2015 taxation system overhaul - put on the national agenda by the Federal Liberal Government - Mr Weatherill pushed for increasing the GST to 15 per cent.

He wanted it to be offset with compensation for low income-earners. He also called for states to be given a fixed share of income tax revenue.

But after initially praising Mr Weatherill’s intervention, the Turnbull Government ruled out changes in 2016.

Under federal law, any GST increases needs agreement from the nation’s leaders. During the 2016 federal campaign, Labor sent out messages that claimed the government wanted to privatise Medicare.

Speaking earlier on Tuesday, Liberal treasury spokesman Rob Lucas denied embarking on a “scare campaign”. He said it was within a State Government’s power to “be part of the process” of increasing the GST.

He said Mr Weatherill pushed for the increase at the Council of Australian Governments meeting “together with the support” of former NSW Liberal Premier Mike Baird.

The Federal Government is reviewing review GST state delivery amid fears SA’s annual share could be cut by up to $550 million.

Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis last night ruled out Labor supporting GST rises.

He criticised the “preposterous scare campaign” over a Federal tax: “Constitutionally it is not even possible, legally not possible. It smacks of desperation.”