Tim Pallas- Napthine slugs Vic boaters with 93 new fees

by Tim Pallas MP on 9 Jul 2013 The Napthine Government will slug Victorian boat owners’ with 93 new and or increased fines, which increased again yesterday, 1 July 2013, Shadow Treasurer Tim Pallas said.

Mr Pallas said Opposition analysis of the Napthine Government’s new and increased boating fees and fines showed there are now 33 new increases in fines and 60 new fines.

Mr Pallas said the Napthine Government was now the highest taxing Government in recent history, breaking an election promise to reduce the cost of living for Victorian families.

'Victorian boaters have every right to be outraged at the Napthine Government for this hypocritical hip pocket slug,' Mr Pallas said.

'In opposition, Mr Napthine and former Treasurer Kim Wells railed against even the indexation of fees and fines, but in Government they are propping their budget up by slugging Victorian boaters with 93 new and increased fees.

'Mr Napthine needs to explain why he is attacking boaters and what benefits, if any, they will obtain through this tax grab.

'Mr Napthine and Treasurer Michael O’Brien have broken an election promise to reduce the cost of living and instead introduced a raft of fee, fine and tax increases to make this Government the highest taxing in recent history.

In 2013/14, budget projections show that the Napthine Government will be 7.61 per cent of Victoria’s Gross State Product (GSP) in revenue, a bigger tax take than occurred under the previous Government.

The nominal figures amount to $3.95 billion more than in the 2010/11 Budget, a growth of nearly 17 per cent and at a cost to each adult Victorian of $654. In real terms, this is an extra $2.01 billion or $237 per Victorian adult.

'The Liberal Government was elected on a promise to reduce the cost of living for Victorian families and instead they have delivered a blowout in the number of fees, fines and taxes that have been introduced or increased under Mr Napthine.

'This is typical of a Liberal Government that is hell bent on repeating the pain and hurt inflicted on Victorian families under the former Kennett Liberal Government.'

Mr Pallas said despite howls from Mr Napthine when in Opposition it seemed his Government could not move quickly enough once in office to introduce new taxes, fee and fine increases.

'The Government promised at the election that they would govern without ‘pushing up debt and…increasing taxes’ (Victorian Coalition Financial Policy, 2010, page 3).

'The 2013/14 State Budget revealed that this Government has tripled debt in real terms since it came to office, and that debt is set to blow out to 6.6 per cent of GSP next year,' he said.

More at http://www.timpallas.com.au/