The ACT government has imposed the largest tax increase per capita with a 4.8 per cent increase compared to the previous financial year, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

This increase has resulted in the ACT becoming the second highest taxing jurisdiction in the country at $5610 per capita.

Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee said: “What the ABS data clearly shows is that the Labor-Green government’s last-ditch attempt to fix this spiralling budget over the next few years is to rapidly increase taxes.

“[Chief Minister]Andrew Barr has failed to deliver a single surplus for more than a decade, racked up tens of billions of dollars’ worth of debt, with an interest bill that will total more than $685 million, resulting in the first credit rating downgrade in 20 years.

“Since the ACT government announced its taxation reform to abolish stamp duty, Andrew Barr has collected more from stamp duty than he did a decade ago, whilst more than doubling the revenue he receives from rates.

“This government has also foisted taxes on local businesses, general practice patients and renters in a desperate move to fund their out-of-control waste which has totalled hundreds of millions of taxpayers’ dollars.

“Canberrans should not have to pay the price for bailing out an inept treasurer and incompetent government, especially during a cost-of-living crisis.”

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