Budget 2022 debate: He Ting Ru on GST 'exemptions' list for essentials
The Workers' Party cannot agree to a GST hike, whether delayed or staggered, as it believes not all other alternatives have been exhausted despite long-term pressures on Singapore's public purse strings, said MP He Ting Ru. Speaking in Parliament on Monday (Feb 28), she suggested allowing exemptions on certain essential items. The list of items should be "essentials", such as food supplies, healthcare and care services, and has to be most beneficial to vulnerable Singaporeans. She said that while exempting items from GST is regressive, the alternative of keeping the existing system of "no exemptions" is likely to be even more regressive. This is because the low-income spends a far larger proportion on consumption, which is always taxed. She said exempting key items from being taxed will significantly reduce the impact on lower-income groups. She also called for a new dashboard to measure Singapore's "holistic progress" as a society.
The Workers' Party cannot agree to a GST hike, whether delayed or staggered, as it believes not all other alternatives have been exhausted despite long-term pressures on Singapore's public purse strings, said MP He Ting Ru. Speaking in Parliament on Monday (Feb 28), she suggested allowing exemptions on certain essential items. The list of items should be "essentials", such as food supplies, healthcare and care services, and has to be most beneficial to vulnerable Singaporeans. She said that while exempting items from GST is regressive, the alternative of keeping the existing system of "no exemptions" is likely to be even more regressive. This is because the low-income spends a far larger proportion on consumption, which is always taxed. She said exempting key items from being taxed will significantly reduce the impact on lower-income groups. She also called for a new dashboard to measure Singapore's "holistic progress" as a society.
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