Beazley urges Howard to deliver immediate tax cut

CANBERRA - Opposition Leader Kim Beazley has urged Prime Minister John Howard to deliver immediate tax cuts to Australians to help them cope with skyrocketing petrol prices.

Mr Beazley said if Labor was in government it would use the $13.6 billion ($14.96 billion) surplus to pass on "pretty decent" tax cuts.

"I would put in place tax cuts now," he told the Nine Network.

"Our proposition was to start a pretty decent tax cut for Australians from January.

"Firstly, you've got a $13 billion surplus, bring that forward, give them a mechanism to be able to pay the extra fuel bills that they've got."

Mr Beazley also proposed giving small businesses operators relief from rising petrol prices by allowing them to enhance their motor vehicle deductions.

He said if it was an election year, Mr Howard would have no hesitation in using his budget surplus to deliver a tax cut.

"You can bet your bottom dollar, if John Howard was facing an election now, he'd be giving the Australian people that tax cut right now," Mr Beazley said.

"And he'd be giving small business some form of relief from the petrol burdens that have fallen on them.

"Well, if he can do it in an election campaign, if it's good for then, do it now."

- AAP