Tuesday, 22 February 2022

Western Victoria Region

Mrs McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:24): (1634) My question is for the Treasurer. It comes from the fine candidate for South Barwon and former member, Andrew Katos, and it refers to the extra financial burden on new home owners resulting from the proposed 1.75 per cent social housing levy on subdivisions greater than three lots. Mr Katos has been contacted by many people in the electorate of South Barwon who are concerned that this Labor government’s latest ill-conceived tax will place home ownership outside the reach of young people despite their strident efforts at saving. This Labor tax will add approximately $12 000 to the cost of a new build in growth areas such as Armstrong Creek and Mount Duneed, so I ask the Treasurer to immediately scrap this government cash grab, which will disproportionately impact first home buyers, especially young Victorians looking to get onto the property ladder. I thank Mr Katos for contacting me.

Mr Gepp: On a point of order, President, I am just struggling as to how that could be, under the standing orders rule, a constituency question. I think it was a very broad statement on policy. It was not consistent with the previous rulings that you have provided and those of previous Presidents in relation to constituency questions. I know personally I have had so many ruled out of order—

Mr Davis: On the point of order, President, I understand the member’s point, but at the same time I am aware of very specific costing that has been done by the Property Council of Australia that has laid out the costs at Armstrong Creek and the impact on the purchase of a property. I think many in the Geelong region, and Mr Katos is one of those, are very concerned about those costings and what that will mean specifically in that area.

Ms Shing: On the point of order, President, I am somewhat concerned and would seek your guidance in relation to the issue of asking questions on behalf of former members of Parliament. Indeed by way of the preamble that Mrs McArthur introduced there was a context to that that I am hoping you might give some guidance on in the way in which constituency questions can be asked, particularly over the coming months.

The PRESIDENT: Order! I do not want too many points of order. Thank you for raising the issue, Mr Gepp. Thank you, Mr Davis, and thank you, Ms Shing. What I will do is have a look at the constituency question again and decide on it. We all know the rules.