The ACT Greens say Treasurer Chris Steel has failed to confirm whether Labor will fully scrap the territory’s health levy, questioning the government’s commitment to removing the charge from Canberra ratepayers.

Greens finance spokesperson Jo Clay MLA said the levy should be abolished entirely, arguing it had been flawed since its introduction.

“Labor’s health levy was a dud from the start,” Ms Clay said. “The Greens refused to support it, saving every Canberra ratepayer $150 off their bill, and now we’re determined to get rid of it completely.”

Ms Clay said payroll tax changes negotiated by the Greens last year would raise more revenue over time than the levy, making the charge unnecessary.

“The payroll tax change the Greens got Labor to adopt last year will raise more money over the long term, in an ongoing way, than the health levy does,” she said.

She also pointed to federal health funding arrangements, saying they removed any justification for retaining the levy.

“If Federal Labor’s health funding deal is good enough for Canberra, ACT Labor needs to confirm they will get rid of their health levy once and for all,” Ms Clay said.

Ms Clay said the Greens wanted greater investment in preventative healthcare to reduce pressure on hospitals and the health budget.

“Labor needs to properly invest in preventative healthcare – which involves everything from access to GPs, to healthy homes and action to prevent worse climate change – to ease pressure on both the hospital system and the health budget,” she said.

File Steel’s budget ‘miracle’ under f… for fiction

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