Edgar backs GST on internet imports SHOPPING centre owner Federation Centres has thrown its weight behind a push for GST on online purchases from overseas retailers. Federation Centres chairman Bob Edgar, who is also the former deputy chief executive of ANZ Bank, is the first chairman of a retail landlord to support the calls by retail tenants in the wake of a lift in internet retail sales in Australia in recent years. Dr Edgar told the company's annual general meeting yesterday that Australian retailers should be provided with a more level playing field in relation to the GST levied on imported goods. The current exemption for GST for imported goods valued at less than $1000, versus the GST levied on the same domestic purchase, is clearly unfair and acts to diminish the potential competition from physical retailers. Without doubt some retail categories, such as music, apparel and books, have been significantly changed by online shopping and it would not be sensible to expect this situation to change. After the meeting, Federation Centres chief executive Steven Sewell said he supported the move to lower the threshold to $20 from the existing threshold of $1000. We think it is reasonable and it's quite a big revenue opportunity for the government. Earlier Mr Sewell told investors that Federation Centres had recorded sales growth for the year to September of 2.8 per cent, with specialty sales growth running at 3 per cent. Shareholders raised few concerns with the company's remuneration report or the resolution put forward at the meeting to grant Mr Sewell performance rights equalling $1.47 million next year, which when added to his current package of $3.09m will see his remuneration hit $4.56m. Federation, which was born out of the debt-strapped Centro empire, closed up 4c at $2.48. Separately, Charter Hall Retail REIT reported sales growth at its shopping centres had remained at 1.5 per cent during the September quarter, the same level of growth recorded over the year to June. It also recorded a decline in rental growth at specialty stores across its portfolio of shopping centres to 2.8 per cent during the first quarter of the 2014 financial year. The growth figure for the September quarter compares with the 3.1 per cent growth in specialty rents over the year to June 30. Fund manager Scott Dundas told the company's annual general meeting, where the sole resolution to reappoint Maurice Koop as a company director was passed, that the performance was in line with expectations. Charter Hall Retail closed up 1c at $4.04.