Latrobe Valley residents are being urged to send a message to the Allan Labor Government to dump the controversial new emergency services tax.
The Nationals have launched the “Scrap The Tax” campaign aimed at killing off Labor’s latest hit on hardworking regional Victorians.
“The emergency services tax, a sneaky and callous cash grab will be Labor’s 60th new or increased tax if it is introduced as planned on July 1,” Member for Morwell Martin Cameron said.
“We plan to stop it happening. The window to strike is now, with a vote in Parliament on the new tax deferred until next month.
“We need the help of all regional Victorians. Visit scrapthetax.com.au and send your protest message to the Treasurer, Jaclyn Symes.”
Mr Cameron said this tax will rip $2.1 billion out of Victorians’ pockets over the next three years to help pay for backroom staff in the city – not improving frontline emergency services. The impact of this tax makes for ugly reading:
- Households will pay almost double.
- Costs will be passed on to renters.
- Commercial rates to increase by 100 per cent.
- Industrial rates will soar by 64 per cent.
- Farmers face a painful 189 per cent rise.
“I’ve heard from many constituents across the Valley already struggling under the burden of Labor’s taxes including big increases in land tax,” Mr Cameron said.
“This latest tax grab is not about emergency services, it’s a sneaky attempt to raise extra revenue because Labor can’t manage money and it is regional Victorians who will pay the price.
“This really is an insidious tax and Labor was hoping it could sneak this through Parliament and creep up on everybody – we won’t allow that to happen.
“This tax should never see the light of day. It should be scrapped.”
