Thursday, 5 October 2023

North-Eastern Metropolitan Region

Nicholas McGOWAN (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:53): (451) Mr Fred Harrington OAM has asked that I ask the Treasurer a number of questions, so I do so with pleasure. Mr Harrington was honoured in 2011 with a Medal of the Order of Australia for his contribution to the people of Eltham. The Harringtons – Irene is his wife; she also has an OAM – purchased a holiday home in Tootgarook some 14 years ago, their pride and joy. However, it has only ever been used by family and friends – never used, I point out, for commercial purposes. In response to the imposition yet again of another tax by this government, brought on by Labor, the Harringtons ask: (1) what is the exact time period the property must be occupied for personal uses each year; (2) does that time need to be in one block or can it be made up of several blocks of time adding up to the required time; (3) what processes and paperwork will be required to be submitted to meet reporting requirements; (4) what will be the cost of setting up the department bureaucracy for collecting this proposed tax; and (5) what processes will be put in place to enforce the payment of this proposed additional tax? Like so many, I despair of this government’s determination to socially re-engineer our state and rid itself of landlords or landowners of any kind, including the elderly, and attack the family home, which will surely follow.

Sitting suspended 12:54 pm until 2:05 pm.