Multiple amendments to Guernsey's tax reform package

Pressure is mounting on the GST and benefits package put together by P&R as deputies queue to lodge amendments.

As the head of Policy and Resources and her Treasury and Foreign Affairs leads took part in a Facebook live Q&A on their tax reform package last night, (7 July) multiple amendments had been lodged against it, the majority that afternoon.

At 1pm there were six amendments, but by 3.30pm that number had increased to 21. 

Several, laid by Deputy David Goy, set out an entirely different approach to taxation, where the rich would pay more in terms of under-used homes and expensive luxury cars. He has not consulted with P&R on his amendments.

Deputy Garry Collins also wants the tax package swept aside and an investigation carried out, by a new committee, into States spending, services and savings.

Speaking to Island FM when the tax proposals were launched, Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez said that she expected members to challenge them:

"We’re a debating chamber, so it's really important that members can explore the package, talk about it, and if they’ve got ideas that they want to run past the rest of this Assembly, that’s absolutely their right to do so; it’s an important part of our democratic process."

Yet the amendments keep coming, as well as a sursis, or delaying motion, that calls for the tax reform package to be shelved for two years until the nature of windfall receipts from finance are understood, and Revenue Services is back on track, after years of delays to tax returns.

Deputy de Sausmarez says that work is taking place:

"This was obviously a key concern of ours as well, given the current troubles, but actually in terms of the new GST it’s quite straightforward from an administrative point of view compared with many other changes that we could make.

"We’ve simplified the Social Security contribution side of things, which is actually the more complex bit, and we are well into our recovery plan for Revenue Services."

Policy and Resources continues to engage with islanders at parish meetings and online, and stresses that the effects of a 3% GST will be offset, for the less wealthy, by Social Security and benefits reform.

Those that remain unconvinced are staging an anti GST protest on Sunday and will be outside the Royal Court during next week's tax debate.