Greens want taxes on hotel rooms and empty homes to fund housing

THE Greens would tax empty homes and hotel guests, ban logging in native forests, slash road funding and set up a climate change ministry under their alternative budget.

Tasmanian Greens leader Cassy O’Connor and the member for Franklin Rosalie Woodruff discuss the Greens’ alternative budget. Picture: DAVID KILLICK

THE Greens would tax empty homes and hotel guests, ban logging in native forests, slash road funding and set up a climate change ministry, under their budget response delivered today.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said that in event of her party taking power, it would deliver a budget surplus of $246 million and would avoid going into net debt.

The Greens’ alternative budget included plans for a $20 million a year tax on vacant residences plus a 10 per cent visitor levy on hotel beds to raise more than $30 million a year.

The money raised would be put into addressing the housing crisis.

MORE: CALLS FOR VISITOR TAX TO FUND MUSEUMS, PARKS

MORE: TOURISM INDUSTRY REJECTS HOTEL TAX PROPOSAL

“We believe this is the budget Tasmania needs,” Ms O’Connor said.

“It’s a long-term vision for this beautiful island and its people that prioritises action on climate, investment in clean energy as well as increased investment making sure Tasmanians have a place to call home, our children are safe and they have access to quality public education.

“We believe this is a truly balanced budget. Tasmanians were presented last week with a budget that prioritised corporate profit over the wellbeing of the Tasmanian people, that prioritised roads and bridges over housing.

“We understand the Tasmanians expect and deserve better and that’s what we’ve delivered in our fully costed alternative budget.”

MORE: COUNCIL WANTS TOURIST TAX FOR BRUNY ISLAND

The Greens would stop Government funding of the V8 Supercars event at Symmons Plains.

The Greens would establish a Climate Change office and a Ministry of Environment and increase funding for the Integrity Commission, the Tenants’ Union and the Environmental Protection Authority, Legal Aid and the Environmental Defenders’ Office and planning bodies.

It also proposed increased registration fees for high-emission vehicles.

The budget detailed an end for funding of V8 car racing, the Hawthorn sponsorship, funding for the horse racing industry and a ban on rodeos, greyhound racing and poker machines.

It also outlined stripping $74 million in “corporate welfare”.

Treasurer Peter Gutwein decried the Greens’ alternative budget as an assault on jobs.

Treasurer Peter Gutwein described the Greens’ alternative budget as “the biggest assault on Tasmanian businesses and jobs in living memory”.

“The Greens’ budget reply today was a frightening reminder of what a Rebecca White and Cassy O’Connor minority government would deliver — major job losses, economic destruction and more taxes,” he said.

“If ever there was any doubt that the Greens would target tourism once they were done with destroying forestry, look no further than their alternative budget — they’ve declared all-out war on tourism.

“Ms O’Connor confirmed that a Labor-Green government would again take the axe to the forestry industry, putting thousands of Tasmanians out of a job.

“Ms O’Connor confirmed a Labor-Green government would shut down the racing industry, again taking the guillotine to 1000 jobs across regional Tasmania.

“If you work in a cafe, restaurant, corner store, pub, motel or just about any business in regional Tasmania make no mistake — the Greens are coming for you and they are coming for your job.”