Debt levy to hit high income earners

People earning more than $80,000 will be in the firing line if the federal government pushes ahead with a national debt levy.

Workers earning between $80,000 and $180,000 could be slugged an extra one per cent tax on their incomes for four years, News Corp Australia reports.

Those on incomes above $180,000 will pay an extra two per cent.

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief operating officer John Osborn opposes the idea of a levy to help pay down government debt.

"The government promised no surprises and no new taxes and a debt levy would be an unwelcome surprise," he told ABC Radio.

But Australian Council of Social Service boss Cassandra Goldie supports the levy.

She says Australia is one of the lowest taxing countries in the OECD and needs to strengthen its tax base.

"The levy would need to be done sensibly, it would need to be carefully targeted," Dr Goldie told ABC radio.

"A levy is probably in the right direction."