Online sales will kill jobs: retailers

AUSTRALIA'S biggest retailers will launch an advertising campaign aimed at pressuring the government to impose GST on all goods bought over the internet.

Retailers, who will pour millions of dollars into the campaign, have warned that thousands of jobs are at risk if the government fails to act.

Taking a leaf from the mining industry, which lobbied effectively against the resource super-profits tax, a coalition of retailers including Myer, David Jones, Harvey Norman and Target, will today begin taking out print ads in a bid to rescue the flagging sector.

Myer chief executive Bernie Brookes criticised the government's announcement of a Productivity Commission inquiry into the taxation of online purchases as a delaying tactic and said urgent action was needed to stop jobs from being lost.

Sluggish retail sales, heavy discounting in the lead-up to the Christmas sales period and a surging Australian dollar have encouraged consumers to shop over the internet, devastating the retail sector.

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i think the whole world is moving to online sales, it is easy to shop, cheaper, and the wife cant buy additional items when in the store !!!

Which of course, reduces sales.

How many traditional retail outlets are set up to tempt impulse buyers?

Personally I'd like to see GST and VAT type taxation done away with, it favours big businesses, who are already well ahead of the field anyway.

Which of course, reduces sales.

How many traditional retail outlets are set up to tempt impulse buyers?

Personally I'd like to see GST and VAT type taxation done away with, it favours big businesses, who are already well ahead of the field anyway.

Do away with income tax, 25% sales tax on everything.

Sumfin like Tahiti and New Caledonia would be great.

25% pay rise to compensate would even it up.

No loopholes, just take the tax.

Why are on-line sales not taxed? (If they are bought in the same country as the purchaser lives). Surely the same rules apply?

If purchased from abroad, then there may be a customs/excise duty to pay.

If I go to (say) a Harvey Norman website and order a new 42" plasma TV it would be the same as going into a Harvey Norman retail outlet and buying there - except that HN could save on rental/property value of an out-of-town super warehouse, as against a city-centre store. (And lots of idle shop assistants).

Please explain why these retailers want to stifle progress, rather than take advantage of it.