Editorial: NSW provides latest reason for Qld to axe land tax hike

Queensland’s widely panned land tax is going about as well as the Swans on AFL grand final day at the MCG, writes the editor.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s widely panned land tax is going about as well as the Swans on AFL grand final day at the MCG.

And the latest twist in the plan to hit investors across the country who own a little slice of the Sunshine State has us feeling like it was concocted in the throes of Silly Sunday, or even worse, a Mad Monday.

It would now appear the state government will be forced to rely on NSW investors, out of the goodness of their hearts, to self-report their land values.

In a move that will have the Labor government reeling this morning, the NSW Liberal government is set to tell Queensland to take a walk, and will not share its data so the new tax can be enforced.

“We don’t support these Queensland land tax laws and we will not be implementing them here, nor are we looking to share landholder data that could facilitate double taxation by Labor,” NSW Finance Minister Damien Tudehope said.

He went on: “This sort of tax grab is exactly what you would expect from a Labor government – they never miss an opportunity to raise taxes.”

Ouch.

But the NSW Labor opposition might want to object to that statement, as they have said they have no intention of creating a land tax similar to that in Queensland.

And the NSW property council has jumped on the front foot, seeking advice about the legality of Queensland’s tax.

Interestingly, on September 14, Treasurer Cameron Dick said the Queensland Revenue Office was working across jurisdictions with their counterparts, but that now appears to be a curious statement, at least in relation to NSW. That state claims Queensland has not made any data-sharing requests.

“If other states want to be on the side of speculators who want to come up to this state, flip properties and stop Queenslanders getting into the property market, well those states can stand up and be heard,” Mr Dick said at the time. “If they want to be on the side of interstate property speculators avoiding paying land tax, well that’s a matter for those states.”

It would surprise absolutely no one if the other states follow the lead set by NSW here, with the optics of increasing taxes on constituents, when cost-of-living expenses are at one of their highest levels in recent memory, an absolute stinker.

It is understood that Mr Dick had resisted internal critics of the tax with the argument that other states would surely follow. If that’s the case then he couldn’t have been more wrong. Queensland now appears isolated in choosing this route.

Of course it is foolish to think that any tax increase passed on to an interstate or local investor/landlord won’t be pushed straight onto those renting their property.

Mr Dick was perhaps being disingenuous when he stated landlords would not pass on any tax increase – a shocking claim for someone in charge of the state’s purse strings.

This further burden will force out renters into an extremely tight and ferocious market, potentially putting families on the streets. This land tax must be abolished.

HEAR THE DOCTORS’ VOICES

Another day, another health scandal.

Today The Courier-Mail looks at the annual report card that shows the incredible stresses junior doctors are under in our hospitals.

The survey by the Australian Medical Association Queensland of more than 700 residents reveals many are concerned at the level of training while some are working 70-hour weeks with inadequate breaks.

Most of them live in fear of making a mistake that may cost a patient’s life.

Alarmingly, these dire results are nothing new, and are only slightly down on last year’s figures.

It appears that this has become the new normal: A system on the edge, staffed by people who are giving their all, but who are being pushed beyond their limits.

Today Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Health Minister Yvette D’Ath need to read the AMAQ’s report.

At the very least, they need to assure these jaded young professionals that their voices are being heard.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here