ACT latest to join list of those halting new leases on cars due to FBT changes Opposition Leader Tony Abbott doubts changes to the fringe benefits tax will save as much as projected. Ben Flink with his new car at his home. Ben leases his car and will be affected by the new FBT tax. THE ACT Government has slammed the brakes on novated lease orders for new cars until further notice, as the backlash to Kevin Rudd's changes to fringe benefit tax on salary sacrifice vehicles spreads. The national capital's government - which employs 21,000 workers - announced the decision in a memo leaked to News Corp said in part: "Pending further clarification regarding the Commonwealth Government decision, the ACT Government is temporarily placing a freeze on approving new salary packaging applications for all vehicles. The ACT Government is currently seeking further information and advice about these changes [to FBT rules] which are likely to significantly impact on the benefits employees would receive from salary packaging of cars. The memo went on to say drivers of cars bought under a novated lease prior to last Tuesday's announcement are unaffected. The car industry last week reported that 10,000 new-car deliveries - about one-third of a week's worth of orders - were frozen in the days following the Rudd Government's sweeping changes to company-car tax rules. News Corp understands other government departments across Australia have taken similar action and put a hold on all new novated lease and salary package deals. Industry figures released last week showed 80 per cent of all novated leases and salary package deals on company cars were taken up by public sector workers. The car industry was meeting with representatives of Federal Treasurer Chris Bowen in Sydney late yesterday. The same industry group met with the Coalitionearlier in the day, with Opposition leader Tony Abbott vowed to maintain hisfight against the FBT changes. "The only way to get rid of (the FBT changes) is to change the government," Mr Abbott said. The ACT Government was last night yet to respond to News Corp's questions about its decision to freeze novated lease orders.