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Canberra Today 16°/18° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Budget / Canberrans being taxed out of the territory, says Coe

“THE scale of the government’s plan for higher rates and taxes in Canberra has been confirmed by today’s Budget,” says Liberal Opposition Leader Alistair Coe citing:  

  • Rates triple from $209 million in 2011–12 to $685 million in 2021­–22
  • Payroll tax doubles from $316 million in 2011–12 to $643 million in 2021–22
  • Total revenue to reach $7 billion in 2021–22
Opposition Leader Alistair Coe.

He says the government’s “tax reform” began in 2012–13 with the stated aim of creating a “fairer, simpler and more efficient tax system for the territory”.

“The heart of the reform was the abolition of conveyancing stamp duty over 20 years, and replacing the revenue lost with increases in general rates,” says Coe. 

“According to the government’s own figures, by 2021–22, 10 years of ‘tax reform’ will see rates revenue more than triple from $209 million to $685 million. This does not include fixed levies on Canberrans’ rates bills which will increase from $28 million to $96 million. And it doesn’t include land tax which will increase from $115 million to $160 million.

“Despite the promise to ‘abolish’ conveyancing stamp duty, revenue from this source will increase each year of the Budget to $296 million in 2021–22. So much for substituting one tax for another.

“But the pain does not stop there. Before Canberrans pay stamp duty on their new home or get their ever increasing rates bill, they have already been gouged by a government that has declared war on homeowners and tenants by restricting the supply of land for new houses.

“As the new head of the government’s Suburban Land Agency has candidly revealed, government policy is “maximising revenue” from the sale of blocks of residential land.  The reality of this is shown by an increase in land sales revenue from $261 million in 2011–12 to $563 million in 2021–22.

“Canberrans are being taxed out of the housing market and in many cases out of Canberra as they move to NSW to realise their dream of a home of their own. Today’s Budget shows the government continues to put maximising revenue ahead of the public good. There is more pain to come.”

 

Ten years of tax pain for Canberrans

  2011–12 ($m) 2021–22 ($m)
General rates 209 685
Levies on properties 28 96
Land tax 115 160
Conveyance stamp duty 239 296
Land sales 261 563
Total property taxes 852 1800

 

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