New outbreak of Liberal unrest over land tax, as MPs attack ‘dodgy’ process to rush reform legislation through partyroom

Four Liberal MPs say they had just minutes to consider the complex changes to the land tax plan before voting – with one calling it a “dodgy process”.

• Resolved “one way or the other” by the end of the year

Four Liberal MPs voted to stop Premier Steven Marshall from introducing land tax reforms to State Parliament, amid a new outbreak of internal concerns over the controversial reform.

Liberal MPs have told The Advertiser they were taken by surprise in the partyroom on Monday night, and given just minutes to consider the fine detail of a highly complex change.

They were then asked to endorse the plan’s submission to Parliament, which will occur on Wednesday.

One Liberal MP said that they considered the speedy reveal of the plan and then forced vote on the legislation “a dodgy process” led by Treasurer Rob Lucas.

At least two spoke against the land tax reform.

They raised concerns it was unfair on people who had made past investments and had structured their finances based on clearly defined rules.

One MP said: “There is a deep frustration and anger with the process”.

The legislation would close a claimed “loophole”, that allows tax minimisation by splitting property investments between multiple legal structures.

In exchange, Mr Lucas plans to slash the rate of land tax paid from 3.7 per cent to 2.4 per cent on portfolios over $1.1 million.

With Labor yet to declare its hand on the reform plan, Mr Marshall faces the risk of a an embarrassing loss on the floor of the Lower House if any of his Liberal MPs break away.

Speaker Vincent Tarzia has said he will reject any change, including the land tax reforms, if called on to break a tie.

That could occur if one Liberal MP crosses the floor.

Four Liberals have previously crossed the floor on controversial mining legislation.

No Liberal MP on Monday night reserved their right to cross the floor on land tax, a formal notice that is given to colleagues under party conventions if they are considering doing so.

However, the Liberal partyroom will meet several times more this year before parliament rises in December.

Mr Lucas has set then as a deadline for a final land tax vote.

The MPs in question refused to speculate on whether their position would change.

Mr Lucas also said the legislation had been approved in the usual way.

He said changes had been made to deal with concerns, and the current policy had been public for weeks.

No formal count was taken of the partyroom vote, which overwhelmingly passed.

Mr Lucas rejected suggestions that the Greens had been briefed ahead of the Liberal partyroom.

Labor is yet to announce a formal position on the plan.