Adelaide dentist Timothy Goh claims he’s been targeted by Steven Marshall staff over land tax opposition
An Adelaide dentist has unloaded on the State Government, saying Premier Steven Marshall’s own staff are running a smear campaign against him because he opposes the land tax reform.
SA News
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Land tax details released, Lucas won’t back down on loophole
- Subscriber rewards, daily puzzles and fewer ads
An Adelaide dentist who has been a strong critic of controversial land tax changes has accused Premier Steven Marshall’s staff of orchestrating a smear campaign against him.
Oxford Dental Practice owner Dr Timothy Goh has unleased in an extraordinary Facebook post, saying he’s been targeted by Mr Marshall’s spin doctors for criticising the policy.
Dr Goh was used in a recent Business SA focus paper as an example of someone who would be hit by the changes, after having “spent years building my residential portfolio”.
The Australian today reported that unnamed Liberals were pointing to Dr Goh’s affluence, including a passion for luxury cars and wine, which have appeared in numerous social media posts, as evidence that he was not a typical ‘mum-and-dad’ investor.
On Facebook on Thursday, Dr Goh said Mr Marshall and the Liberal Party lacked the “guts” to go after bigger investors and were using “taxpayer-funded staff to try to discredit me”.
“The last few months have been hard on my family and I with my father being very ill, Steven Marshall’s new land taxes that have caused so many including myself enormous stress and anxiety,” Dr Goh wrote.
“Really Steven Marshall and the South Australian Liberal Party? Is the best use of your time and our tax dollars spent attacking a private citizen, taxpayer and voter?
“Shouldn’t you be trying to improve this state instead of using the resources of SA to try to satisfy personal vendettas?
“The highest unemployment in Australia is not a problem but a middle-aged dentist in Unley is?
“Why didn’t you have the guts to have a go at Steve Maras, John Culshaw, Sam Shahin, and the many other business leaders?”
Dr Goh questioned whether the Government was so “desperate” that “you and your spin doctors have decided to try to silence me and others who are scared and angry”.
“Do you think taxpayer dollars should be spent using taxpayer-funded staff to try to discredit me in the media for voicing our concerns about jobs, cost of living, the massive increases in bills, and the high costs of doing business and investing in SA?” he wrote.
“Is it the Liberal Party’s agenda that you shouldn’t aspire to own a sports car? That a guy who worked at KFC shouldn’t try to achieve more?”
“I have built three businesses from scratch with no handouts from taxpayers or anyone else.
“I have not inherited or won the lotto. I am proud that I have bought properties to help secure my financial future. The accountant and lawyer structured all my assets for asset protection, to isolate projects, and according to the decades old and even still current laws.
“And I pay land tax, a lot of it. Every single dollar I am required to pay.”
Dr Goh added: “When I first heard about the land tax changes, I tried reaching out to several MPs, and none had the courtesy to message me back or bother answering me about my concerns”.
“Are you that arrogant to think that SA is your own police state?” he asked.
“Is this the South Australia we all want where the ruling party actually will abuse their power to silence those impacted by their terrible policies?
“I, and I hope others will continue to fight against you for our beliefs, our families, our businesses and our South Australia.”
It comes amid an increasingly bitter battle between the Government and elements of the business community, for whom Treasurer Rob Lucas this week said he would not “bend over”.
Premier Steven Marshall is expected to face questions on the smear claim in Parliament today.