Excise Duty

The proposal by the Ministry of Revenue is currently being debated in Parliament with most MPs supporting the move.

But opposition MP, Olo Fiti Vaai, would like the government to reconsider because he says imported chicken leg quarters are one of the cheapest imported meats low income families can buy.

A government female MP, Faaulusau Rosa Stowers, supported that call but suggested lowering the cost of top quality meat imports.

Government estimates project GST to haul in K1,484.7 million (K1.5 billion) of the overall Tax on Goods and Services predicted revenue of K2,762.2 million (K2.8 billion).

The Tax on Goods and Services will also comprise of K691.1 million in Excise Duty, Import Excise of K300.3 million and K180.5 million in Gaming Machine Turnover Tax.

The Government states that the gradual increase in commodity prices and in the agriculture and mining sector in 2017 are expected to support income and spending on goods and services in the economy.