The Emergency Services Volunteers Fund, nothing more than a re-branded and expanded Fire Services Tax, passed Parliament last week despite strong opposition from The Nationals.
From July 1, everyday Victorians – homeowners, businesses and farmers – will be financially impacted by this latest new tax grab.
Throughout Victoria, homeowners, businesses and farmers will now shoulder an additional $2.1 billion in taxes over the next three years.
Victorian homeowners can now expect to pay 17.3 cents for every $1,000 in Capital Improved Value – up from 8.7 cents under the former levy.
Commercial, industrial and primary production landowners face increases of 100 per cent, 64 per cent, and 189 per cent respectively.
The Nationals’ Member for Shepparton District, Kim O’Keeffe, said the new tax was another attempt by the Allan Labor Government to address their appalling financial mismanagement by slugging hard working Victorians with yet another tax.
The devil is in the detail with this new tax, including rental providers being charged a higher rate than owner occupiers.
“This will simply take more houses out of the rental market at a time when we have a housing crisis,” Ms O’Keeffe said.
“We have already seen over 20,000 rental properties sold in the past 18 months in this State due to the increased land tax, and another additional tax imposed will be the nail in the coffin for many more property owners.”
Ms O’Keeffe said the Treasurer, Jaclyn Symes’, comments this week that rental providers “can afford to pay more tax” shows just how completely out of touch the Treasurer and this government really are.
“Labor is once again adding another tax as they battle their out-of-control debt, hitting rental providers and regional Victorians particularly hard,” she said.
“People are already financially distressed and struggling to make ends meet.
“In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis the government introduces yet another tax.
“People in our community shouldn’t have to hand over even more money to the government to fund what should be core government services.
“Our emergency services should be able to get the funding they need without Labor adding yet another tax adding to its 60 new or increased taxes since coming into government.
“The Labor Government needs to take accountability for their financial mess and mismanagement and not expect everyday hard working Victorians to have to find more money that they don’t have.
“Labor can’t manage money, can’t manage emergency services and regional Victorians are paying the price.”
