Facebook and Google have reason to cheer after Australia rejects the idea of taxing their local revenues. Finance Minister Grant Robertson says the Government still intends to consider a "digital services tax" on multinationals such as Google and Facebook, despite the Australian government rejecting the idea. The Australian government released a consultation paper on a digital services tax in October. Officials have repeatedly warned that introducing a digital services tax outside of an international agreement could breach tax treaties New Zealand had signed with other countries, or World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules. "Facebook tax" – also known as a "digital services tax" or "equalisation tax".

Source: Stuff March 27, 2019 02:48 UTC