The Nationals’ Member for Shepparton District, Kim O’Keeffe, has condemned the Allan Labor Government for attempting to mislead regional Victorians by delaying, rather than abandoning, its new emergency services tax until after the next state election.
Ms O’Keeffe said locals should not be fooled by Labor’s latest annoucement, warning that the tax has not been scrapped, only strategically shelved for political convenience.
“A desperate Labor Government is trying to buy time and soften the growing backlash across regional communities by pushing this decision past the next election.
“Make no mistake, Labor fully intends to push ahead with this multibillion-dollar tax grab, and Victorians are already paying the price.”
Under Labor’s plan, farmers would be hit with massive levy increases, while rental providers and renters would be slugged with a new fixed charge, adding further pressure during the worst cost-of-living crisis the region has seen in decades.
Ms O’Keeffe said the government’s annoucement was not a genuine change of heart, nor any real recognition of the increased financial pressure on our farmers, families and local businesses.
“Labor is not listening, they’re simply trying to secure votes. This is not fairness, it’s political game play.
“Labor wants to get past an election and this without admitting the scale of the financial hit they plan to dump on regional Victoria.”
Ms O’Keeffe said that this is why we must get rid of this untrustworthy and useless Labor Government. Only a Nationals and Liberal Government will genuinely ease cost-of-living pressures by scrapping Labor’s Emergency Services Tax altogether and reinstating the previous Fire Services Property Levy model.
“Families, farmers and small communities deserve certainty, not political games. The Nationals stand firmly with regional Victorians.
“We will stop this tax and ensure our communities are not used as Labor’s next revenue source.
“Labor can’t manage money, can’t be trusted and regional Victorians are paying the price.”
