This is just a note to enlighten all intended travellers to Australia that as of July the 1st this year Australia will be changing its taxation system. As of this date we will be adopting a GST ( Goods & Services Tax ) system which will mean a 10 % increase in prices for all services and some goods. For travellers please note that restaurant meals and take away food prices will go up as well as travel costs like airfares and tours. <BR> <BR>It would be wise to account for this increase in your budget.

Is it more than a coincidence that this increase in taxation comes at a time when Sydney hosts the Olympic Games?

Just to clarify the initial post, fresh food is exempt, whilst international airfares and domestic airfares bought from outside Australia are also exempt (I think). The price increases will not be 10% across the board, as some other indirect taxes are being done away with. <BR>Its got nothing to do with the Olympics. They are mostly funded by New South Wales, whilst the GST is a federal thing. The GST is being offset by large personal income tax cuts (to make it palatable) so it will actually cost the Govt. revenue in the early years.

The GST is a complicated tax system in its present form so to allow the traveller to have a more informed approach to their budgeting I have included the website for the Australian Consumer Commission which allows the user to check what goods will go up and what will come down and by how much. Hopefully this will be of some use to those people travelling in Australia after 01-JULY-2000. <BR> <BR>Happy Trails.

Woops! The website is http://www.safetyweb.com.au/accc/dd_search.asp <BR> <BR>