Gary's Speeches

State Taxation and Gambling Legislation Amen. Bill

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It is with pleasure that I rise to speak on the State Taxation and Gambling Legislation Amendment (Budget Measures) Bill. The changes that this bill introduces are quite a mixed bag. Some changes benefit sections of the community and other changes will impose further increases in taxation by a government absolutely hooked on taxing Victorians like never before. A positive is the lowering of the stamp duty for passenger vehicles, which will provide a much-needed boost for local manufacturers and local jobs.

Examples of the reduction are a saving of more than $500 on a Holden Commodore, a Ford Falcon and a Toyota Aurion and a saving of $250 on a Holden Calais and a Ford Fairmont Ghia.

The downside of this initiative is that it is intended to be funded with the removal of the current fuel subsidy paid to fuel companies: 0.43 cents a litre on petrol and 0.75 cents a litre on diesel. These amounts may seem insignificant, but once again country people, who rely heavily on road transport -- road vehicles for personal travel and delivery of goods -- will be hit hard if the oil companies pass on these costs to the consumer. There is no reason to suggest that they will have a change of heart in this instance. Once again country families and businesses will be hit unfairly as a direct result of this government's failure to look beyond the tram tracks when developing policy that will affect all Victorians. In fact it is country Victorians who will be hit hardest once again.

The land tax reduction measures do not go far enough. With increases in land tax of more than 130 per cent during the record taxing regime of the Bracks government, this threshold increase will barely cover inflationary bracket creep. Land tax is a direct negative for the bottom lines of businesses, and coupled with the increases in municipal rates it is creating genuine hardship and forcing the closure of many businesses.

It is very interesting to note that the current municipal rate rises around the state are about 7 per cent. This is a direct reflection of the battle local government is having with the constant cost shifting by this government to local councils, especially rural shires. These shires are forever trying to cope with their failing local road networks. They are trying to keep up with the maintenance and upgrade of road infrastructure while this government continues to reduce funding in real terms. For example, the Baw Baw shire in my electorate will receive only a 1.5 per cent increase in its special purpose and rural road grants in the 2007-08 budget, which will nowhere near keep pace with the consumer price index. Of course it is going backwards, and once again the people of Narracan will suffer.

Another example of the unfair treatment of rural people involves Forest Road at Labertouche in my electorate. This road qualified for timber roads funding three years ago and was budgeted to be upgraded in 2005-06 and 2006-07, but in both these years it dropped off the radar. Still the residents along that road are subjected to having to deal with dust in their water tanks and an extremely dangerous road that provides the only access to their properties. The timber roads funding allocation has again been pulled this year, leaving Baw Baw shire with no option but to try to manage the situation on its own very tight budget.

I would like to touch on the gambling regulation amendments, which appear to be nothing more than another opportunistic grab for extra cash by the Bracks government. The amendments propose to adjust the rate of commission on wagering through totalisator pools. Previously when net commissions in excess of 16 per cent were received by wagering operators the surplus was returned to punters. The amendments remove that safeguard and allow the government to pocket a share of the extra profits. The amendments also seek to increase the annual health benefit tax -- and I say 'tax' -- on every electronic gaming machine by 43 per cent. This will net the government an extra $39 million a year, bringing total revenue from the health benefit tax to $130 million a year.

I will not be opposing this bill, as I, like many country Victorians, live in the hope that the Bracks government will lift its sights beyond the tram tracks. I hope the government will use this extra income to fund the delivery of services in Narracan for hospitals, roads, schools, extra police, those with special needs and their carers, and water infrastructure. I call on the Minister for Health to act immediately on the funding shortfall currently being experienced by the West Gippsland Healthcare Group. One of the reasons the West Gippsland Healthcare Group has been able to continue delivering high-quality health care over recent years despite being ignored in funding allocations is the continuing generosity of the West Gippsland community. The number of bequests and donations has been exceptional over many years. The minister needs to stop bludging off the people of Narracan and address the funding shortfall in line with the support that has been made available to other hospitals in our region.

I remind this house that the health benefit tax can only be used for public health purposes. The people of Narracan are sick and tired of being ignored. We have people in Moe having to wait 67 months to get access to public dental health, as reported in the Herald Sun in recent days. How can a government that continues to raise record revenue deny basic dental health services to the people of Moe and many other communities?

As I said, I will not be opposing this bill, but I plead with the government to start using the extra revenue that will be collected as a result of the amendments to this legislation in a more equitable manner, to stop ignoring country Victorians and to give my electorate of Narracan a fair go.