A late move to delay the 3% goods and services tax for a year was defeated by 27 votes to 17 in the States yesterday.
Senator Len Norman’s delaying move was rejected, but Members did agree to put off the start date from 1 May to avoid a Bank Holiday and starting the tax in midweek.
Those in favour of the GST deferral argued that big States surpluses meant that the tax was not needed, but others said that businesses had invested in equipment and training which would be wasted if the tax was cancelled with five weeks to go.
