Tuesday, 3 October 2023

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Taxation

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:01): My question is to the Premier. Today the Treasurer announced at a business breakfast two new taxes that will add further cost pressures to Victorians struggling with the cost of living. Was the Premier aware the Treasurer was going to announce these new taxes this morning – the 51st and 52nd new or increased taxes under Labor since 2014?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:02): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. He mentioned the Treasurer being at a breakfast this morning. Can I also say in answering the Leader of the Opposition’s question that this morning I was with the Minister for Planning in Brunswick at a Nightingale project where we were talking about the bold reform agenda that we released a couple of weeks ago that is about building more homes for more Victorians. As part of that –

Cindy McLeish: On a point of order, Speaker, on context and relevance, the Premier is outlining her morning, not the Treasurer’s and the announcement, and is missing the point of the question and avoiding it.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier had only commenced her answer. I ask the Premier to return to the question that was asked.

Jacinta ALLAN: Before I was interrupted I was about to go to the context of course, because what the Treasurer was talking about this morning and what the Minister for Planning and I were talking to this morning was all about how the government is putting in place a big, bold reform agenda that is about building more homes. We have to look at how across government and how across the entirety of government we bring every effort to build Victorians more homes, because there is no more critical issue.

Of course I was aware of what the Treasurer is bringing to the Parliament this week. Of course I was aware, because this has gone through cabinet. But it does give me the opportunity to talk to, as I said, how the legislation that the Treasurer is bringing to the Parliament this week fits with that overall effort to build more homes for Victorians, because what the Treasurer is doing is extending a policy setting to make sure that more homes are available for people. Victorians deserve the dignity of a roof over their head. Victorians deserve the dignity of a bed to sleep in at night. Land banking does not achieve that. It does not achieve that, and that is why we are looking at making every effort to build more homes for more Victorians.

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:04): Neither of these two new taxes were mentioned or included in the May budget or in the housing statement just three weeks ago. Why did the Premier introduce two new taxes as her first substantive act as Premier?

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:05): Well, if the Leader of the Opposition had been listening, I think I answered the why in my previous answer to his substantive question. The why is that we are looking at everything we can do to build more homes, everything we can do to increase supply and everything we can do to make sure that in this instance vacant properties are made available for people to be able to live in. Vacant property is an issue. Some people have two or three properties. Some people have nine or 10 properties. Some people have 17.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, may I refer you to Rulings from the Chair, page 153, Speaker Maddigan’s ruling that:

The Speaker reminded members that when answering a question a minister can discuss alternative views but must do so without …

making nasty attacks on other members.

The SPEAKER: The Premier did not refer to any member in this house in her response. The Premier has concluded her answer.