Junior soccer referees, who referee games for players as young as six years old, have already been hit by the Howard Government’s GST, Shadow Minister for Sport, Senator Kate Lundy, said today.
Registration fees for junior referees for this year’s winter season, which commences next month, include provision for the GST from 1 July 2000.
The 2000 Membership Application for Soccer Referees Canberra (see attached application form) includes the GST component.
This shows that junior referees, some as young as 11 and 12, are being caught up in the GST net because they are prepared to be available to referee matches for primary school players.
“Mr Howard and Mr Costello should explain why their Goods and Services Tax treats a 12-year-old refereeing an under-7 soccer match as a taxable economic service,” Senator Lundy said.
“This is taxation gone mad.
“Does it mean that when Mr Howard promised that nobody would be worse off under his new tax, he forgot to exclude junior volunteer amateur soccer referees?” Senator Lundy said.
Contact: Simon Tatz on 02-6277 3334 or 0418 488295
