Vacant residential land tax
Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (12:36): (908) My question is to the Treasurer. The Treasurer will no doubt know Dinner Plain in the High Country, which sits at an altitude of over 1500 metres. Unlike other alpine towns, Dinner Plain remains unfairly subjected to the vacant residential land tax, despite meeting all the criteria of an alpine resort. The town endures a limited tourism window during the snow season and for much of the year lacks core services like public transport, medical facilities, supermarkets and community infrastructure. Treasurer, why do residents of Dinner Plain have to keep paying this unjust tax despite experiencing the same seasonal demands for accommodation that the resorts just down the road do?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:36): I thank Mrs Broad for her question. I have received advocacy from both local members in that area and also some residents. Some of the arguments they have made have given me an opportunity to look more closely at it, because I think that, as you have articulated, it is not directly an alpine resort. I am actually seeking further advice on this right at the moment in relation to options that could potentially consider some of the positions that have been put. I am not in a position to confirm any outcomes. There are other communities that have raised similar types of issues. But it is something that I am actively looking at right now, and I am more than happy to brief you when I have a firmer position in relation to a response. But it is fair to say that there is a collection of correspondence that I am sitting on because I have not wanted to respond in the way that I have been potentially advised. I want to interrogate that a little bit further. That is a reflection of where that matter is up to.
Gaelle Broad: That is great. Thank you.