Thursday, 20 February 2025

 Wayne FARNHAM (Narracan) (10:01): I rise today, along with other people, to talk about land tax assessment notices. Since I did an adjournment last sitting week I have been inundated by local constituents who have been receiving these bills. One such constituent has given me their last four years: 2022, $4900; 2023, $5100; 2024, $6700; and the big one this year, 2025, over $11,000. This government and the State Revenue Office (SRO) are riding through this state like the Sheriff of Nottingham and robbing Victorians blind; they are absolutely robbing them blind. On those assessment notices between 2024 and 2025 that property value went up 50 per cent. There is no property that has gone up 50 per cent in 12 months in this state.

What is happening now is the government is driving investment out of Victoria. It is going to go west, and the investment is going to go south. The government and the SRO need to do valuations that are appropriate. They do not need to overinflate valuations to get more tax dollars into this government. It is absolutely criminal what they are doing to hardworking Victorians at the moment. They need to readjust the valuations, and they need to get them right. This is affecting small businesses and small investors all around the state, and the government needs to stop.