The Nationals leader and Member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh, has demanded Treasurer Tim Pallas “explain, let alone justify” radical and punitive changes to the state’s land tax charges.
Mr Walsh took his fight to the floor of the Parliament today, asking Mr Pallas to “explain to my constituents why the government has changed the criteria to force thousands of them to pay a land tax for the first time”.
He says “like my constituents, I look forward to seeing how the Treausurer will justify this latest blatant tax grab”.
“Labor’s decision to slash the tax-free threshold from $300,000 to $50,000, while also slapping an additional flat tax up to $975 on Victorian households is daylight robbery,” Mr Walsh says.
“Treasurer Tim Pallas has tried to soften the blow by claiming his land tax hike will cost the average Victorian household an additional $1300 every year – but we are hearing reports of much greater damage to the bottom lines of ordinary Victorians trying to get ahead,” he says.
“These changes will punish and divide homeowners and renters across Victoria and is just the latest of many examples of Labor punishing Victorians for its own economic mismanagement.
“This new Labor tax – one of more than 50 it has introduced despite promises there would be no new taxes for Victorians – must lead to increased pressure on households, increased costs to running a business and increased rents and impact some of Victoria’s most vulnerable community members.”
Mr Walsh says with typical Allan Labor government timing, these land tax changes come at a time when Victorians can least afford them.
He says The Nationals and Liberals are giving a promise to undertake a wholesale review of Victoria’s taxation system – and legislate a cap on our State’s out-of-control debt – when elected.
“I can tell you now, we will also repeal Labor’s unfair school tax and set up a Victorian version of the Productivity Commission,” Mr Walsh explains.
“As of today there is little wriggle room left – even if you only own land with others, in whatever ownership structure, you are classified as a joint owner for land tax purposes,” he says.
“If you own land with multiple people, companies or trusts, each unique combination of owners is considered a different joint ownership. Joint owners are assessed for land tax in a different way.
“Labor gets you with stamp duty on the way into property ownership now it is having a second big bite of the cherry because it has run out of its own money and needs yours to keep going.”
Mr Walsh says facing a record debt of around $250 billion, Labor is now introducing new taxes every few months as it tries to claw its way out of the black debt hole it has dug.
He says Victoria is the highest taxing state in Australia and every Victorian is footing the bill for Jacinta Allan’s mismanagement.
“Labor cannot manage money, and now they have run out of it they are coming after yours,” he warned.
