Labor breaks ‘no tax increase’ budget vow
A promise made during the Queensland state election campaign to suspend tax hikes for four years will be broken in Tuesday’s state budget.
A promise made during the Queensland state election campaign to suspend tax hikes for four years will be broken by the Palaszczuk government when it raises coal royalties and gambling taxes in Tuesday’s state budget.
Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick made the promise in October 2020, when he repeatedly ruled out tax increases, including on businesses.
But in its eighth consecutive budget, handed down on Tuesday, the Palaszczuk government will raise gambling taxes and end a decade-long freeze on royalty rates for coalmining companies.
Mr Dick has been adamant his pre-election promise was to the “people of Queensland” and not businesses.
“We didn’t make a promise to corporations here in Queensland, or in Australia, or around the world,” Mr Dick has said.
“We made the promise to the people and we have delivered on that.”
But when he was asked at an October 9, 2020 press conference if he was “ruling out new or increased business taxes”, Mr Dick said: “There will not be any increased taxes, we have said that very clearly from the start, no new taxes from the Labor government if we are re-elected.”
Pressed further on whether Labor would change its tax policy during its fixed-four year term, Mr Dick said: “No, OK, make it clear – no taxes under the Labor government, no new taxes. Full stop.”
Ahead of the budget, Mr Dick has announced the point of consumption tax on wagering companies would rise from 15 per cent to 20 per cent and be broadened to include free and bonus bets.
He met with the resources industry earlier this month to flag an increase on coalmining royalties after a decade-long freeze.
Car registration fees will also increase from July 1, when the state government hikes charges by 2.5 per cent in 2022-23 – up from the 1.7 per cent indexation rate this financial year.
Mr Dick on Monday afternoon said health would be “at the centre of the budget”.
“It will be a strong Labor budget, focused on Labor values and delivering those jobs, those services,” he said.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the budget would be focused on “jobs, better services and our great Queensland lifestyle – Queensland is full of so much opportunity with the unemployment rate coming down to 4 per cent and job-generating industries across Queensland”.
Ms Palaszczuk also flagged a large health spend, after announcing a new 150-bed cancer treatment centre in Brisbane last week. Construction on the $750m centre, at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, will begin in 2024 and is expected to take four years.
“I have said to Queenslanders that I understand how important health is to each and every one of you – health is absolutely critical to our families,” Ms Palaszczuk said on Monday.
“I am so proud that tomorrow, it will be a historic health budget for Queensland the likes of which Queenslanders have never seen before.”
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