The ACT Greens have joined the Liberals and independent Fiona Carrick in effectively sinking Labor’s unpopular $11 “volunteer tax” announced in Treasurer Chris Steel’s first budget.
By Friday afternoon Labor had raised the white flag and abandoned the revenue-raising measure.
“It’s over. The Greens are closing the door on this unconstructive and unhelpful new fee,” said Greens MLA Laura Nuttall, who alerted the treasurer this week that the party would be opposing the fee on volunteers seeking Working With Vulnerable People Cards.
The Greens earlier used their balance-of-power numbers to force Steel into reducing the budget’s proposed “health levy” on ratepayers from $250 a household to $100.
“Since the budget was handed down, well over 1000 people have signed the petition I sponsored against this new fee. Many people have made it very clear that the cost will turn them off volunteering,” said Nuttall.
“This fee raises so little revenue for the government that it’s clearly not about the money. It’s just a lazy, unpopular stopgap that will make it even harder for the government to properly look after people.
“Ultimately, the government relies on volunteers to deliver many important services they’ve outsourced to community organisations. It’s wrong to treat local volunteers like a pain in the side.”
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