THE Emergency Services Volunteer Fund, which has been dubbed 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 will be hit with this latest tax. Throughout Victoria, homeowners, businesses and farmers will shoulder an additional $2.1B in taxes over the next three years.
Homeowners can 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 up to 100 per cent, 64 per cent, and 189 per cent respectively.
State Member for Shepparton District, Kim O’Keeffe, said the new tax was another attempt by the State Government to address their appalling financial mismanagement. She said the “devil is in the details” with this new tax, including rental providers being charged a higher rate than owner-occupiers.
“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,” said O’Keeffe.
She said Treasurer, Jaclyn Symes’, comments last 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,” O’Keeffe said.
“Our emergency services should be able to get the funding they need without Labor adding yet another tax to its 60 new or increased taxes since coming into government.”
