Wednesday, 21 February 2024

Land tax

David LIMBRICK (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (09:44): The people of my electorate who work in manufacturing are amazing. As the South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance points out, they make everything from yoghurt to trains, from buses to bolts, and 300 of these companies export goods overseas. But thousands of jobs in the manufacturing sector are now under threat. They are at risk because of yet another over-the-top government response to the pandemic.

Manufacturers are in shock after being sent ridiculous land tax bills now amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars and multiples higher than previous bills. We have heard a lot of posturing lately from politicians who claim to be worried about the cost of living and price gouging by supermarkets, but the draconian tax hike amounts to price gouging that is far worse than ever envisaged by the greediest capitalist. This is a dreadful assault on the most valuable people we have, the people who use their ingenuity to create wealth. Not only does this price gouging threaten current enterprises, it will discourage new ones. Why would you begin a manufacturing business in this state? The Libertarian Party wholeheartedly condemns the increase in land tax.