Labor and the Liberals have accused each other of planning an ambulance tax, something both parties have furiously denied.
The government has also ruled out a “tinny tax” on boats.
the opposition took aim at the government in the wake of what it called a backflip on proposed reforms to the fire service levy.
Opposition leader Rebecca White referred to government documents produced in response to a parliamentary motion, which appeared to canvas expanding the emergency services levy — which Labor has dubbed a fire tax — to ambulance services and recreational boats.
“Will you rule out returning to these terrible ideas as part of your commitment to go back to the drawing board, or is a tinny tax and a massive new ambulance tax now back on the table for the Liberal Party. The Labor Party will not support them,” she said.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s reply was short and to the point: “Tinny tax, no. Ambulance tax, no.”
Also among the documents was an email from acting Treasury Secretary Fiona Calvert professing ignorance over how the rates of the reformed fire services levy were determined.
“As advised last week, my understanding is that the composition of rates released by the Minster last week was not sufficient to raise the level of funding required to support the new Fire and Emergency Service )as previously advised by Police,” it said.
“We are not aware who modelled the rates that were eventually released.
Ms White proclaimed the government had committed “fire tax fraud” upon the public.
“Did the minister make up the numbers himself, or did your office or you cook the books so that you could hit Tasmanians with even more tax than you were willing to admit to?” she asked the Premier.
Mr Rockliff said the government was determined to fix an unsustainable funding model.
“What sort of opposition are you? You are an absolute shambles and have been proven time and again throughout this week and, indeed, the whole year, to stand for nothing,” he said.
“The existing system is unfair, inequitable and unsustainable.
“If we keep going with the existing reform, we will not be able to sustain our emergency services.
“That is why we are committed to this reform and listening to key stakeholders and the community about taking this reform forward."
Mr Rockliff accused Labor of planning an ambulance tax.
“When it comes to the ambulance levy, Labor is going back to the future once again, adding to the BecFlips we are seeing quite often in this place over the course of the last couple of years,” he said.
Labor denied what turned out to be a reference to a 2007 policy, prompting an interjection from Labor MP Dean Winter: “Can you explain your policies from 1950, please?”.
Thursday was the last Question Time for 2023. The next regular sitting day will be March 5.
