ACCC tackles price

THE Australian Consumer and Competition Commission has been given the job of monitoring prices when a GST becomes law.

ACCC small business officer Siobhan O’Gara said the commission would make sure businesses were not profiteering from the new system.

The commission will base a GST officer in Perth to act as a prices watchdog.

“We will ensure any savings from a GST are passed on to consumers,” Ms O’Gara said.

“Several taxes are going to be abolished so there should be some savings there,” she said.