Labor says it believes Marshall is about to change land tax legislation, as parliament readies for debate
A surprise further rewrite of the controversial land tax policy is looming, as Premier tries to shore up support from industry.
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Premier Steven Marshall is seeking to make a surprise further rewrite of his controversial land tax policy, in a last-minute bid to lock in belated support from industry.
The Advertiser understands a new version of the policy, which has been at the centre of political debate in the state for almost five months, is being debated in a Liberal partyroom meeting, which began at Parliament House late Monday evening.
Labor earlier said it believed the State Government was about to make a further change to its controversial land tax policy, just a day before debate is set to kick off in state parliament.
In a press conference on Monday afternoon, Labor treasury spokesman Stephen Mullighan said there were reports the matter was to be raised in the Liberal partyroom on Monday night.
Labor’s shadow cabinet was on Monday expected to discuss the current version of the controversial plan, which aims to close a “loophole” that allows tax minimisation while also slashing the top marginal rate, before a full Opposition Caucus meeting on Tuesday morning.
Premier Steven Marshall has already introduced land tax legislation into the parliament, which he spruiked a fortnight ago as a major reform.
Formal debate on it was to start this week.
The current plan, which cuts the top rate of tax on portfolios worth $1.1 million and over from 3.7 per cent to 2.4 per cent, is itself a significant change since the State Budget.
That was sparked by industry alarm, led by the Property Council, of higher taxes on people and businesses that had split property ownership between different legal structures.
Mr Mullighan said the Government was “in chaos”, and making policy on the run.
“Questions now have to be asked of the Premier, and why on Earth he is making further changes to his land tax package just before he has a Liberal partyroom meeting and just before the Labor Party is about to decide its position on this,” Mr Mullighan said.
“The Labor Party has been absolutely clear that we were going to consider our position on this, and make a decision in our Caucus meeting just before parliament resumes (on Tuesday).
“It casts real clouds over Steven Marshall’s leadership and stewardship of these land tax changes, and whether he could get them through his own partyroom.”
He said the community response to the land tax changes “has been varying from deep concern to utter outrage” and it was impossible for Labor to make a call until the policy was clear.
The Advertiser has previously reported that there is significant concern in the Liberal partyroom about the way the legislation was delivered and debated a fortnight ago.
Four MPs voted to delay its introduction to parliament.
One MP said Treasurer Rob Lucas had overseen a “dodgy process”, which rushed the reform plan on them with little notice.
The Government has been contacted for comment.