‘Labor’s fiscal vandalism’: Millions of drivers to cop hefty price hike
One Australian state will cop a price hike for government services as a cost-of-living cost freeze begins to thaw out.
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Millions of drivers are set to cop increased fees as a 12-month price freeze in one state thaws out.
In the 2024 budget, the former Queensland Labor government paused all price increases for government services – including driver’s licence fees and fines – for 12 months, in an effort to reduce the strain on residents struggling during the cost-of-living crisis.
However, now the Liberal government is in power, the freeze has been axed, with costs set to increase by July 1.
In a statement shared by Treasurer David Janetzki, the government was “working tirelessly” to “restore” the state’s finances after the former Labor’s government’s cost-of-living measures, including 50 cent public transport fees and scrapping stamp duties.
“The Crisafulli government is working tirelessly to repair the state’s finances after a decade of Labor’s fiscal vandalism, and that includes restoring respect for taxpayers’ money,” he said on Friday.
The 3.4 per cent price rise is the same as previous increases by the Labor government, but remains above Brisbane’s annual consumer price index (CPI) of 2.7 per cent for the March quarter, as well as the national CPI of 2.4 per cent.
Some of the services in the hike include a five-year licence, which is set to increase from $198.35 to approximately $205.10.
The Crisafulli government’s price hike will exclude car registrations, holding onto its 20 per cent cut until September 16, 2025.
From then, the previously frozen prices will increase by 3.4 per cent.
Currently, it costs $708 to register a four-cylinder car, including compulsory third-party insurance and traffic improvement fees.
Originally published as ‘Labor’s fiscal vandalism’: Millions of drivers to cop hefty price hike
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