Commuters' tax break gets thumbs down

The Australian Government has rejected calls to give public transport commuters a A$200 ($217.62) tax break.

NSW Transport Minister John Watkins yesterday outlined the proposal to give rail, bus and ferry commuters tax benefits similar to those already provided to car users through salary-packaging of vehicles.

Public transport tickets could be included in salary packages to give employees tax concessions. There would also be tax reductions for bosses whose workers caught the train, bus or ferry to work.

But a spokeswoman for Assistant Treasurer Mal Brough said employees could already tax-deduct public transport travel for business purposes, but not for travel to and from work.