2005

Reforming infrastructure and service provision

Two reforms are crucial to State government infrastructure and service provision: better forward planning; and greater focus on what governments actually do with the money they spend. (12 July)

Brumby's new $6,000 property tax

Thousands of property owners across Victoria are to be hit with new land tax bills of up to $6,320 on top of the massive increases they are already paying. Almost everyone in Victoria who owns a business or residential property through a trust is to be taxed from next year at a new land tax rate up to five times higher than the tax rate on other property. (29 June)

Bracks slack on paying bills

The Bracks Government is still not paying its bills on time, despite a promise to act made in September last year. (22 June)

More Bracks tax stings on property owners

The Bracks Government is trying to sneak in more tax stings on property owners under the State Taxation Act (General Amendment) Bill, including  imposing stamp duty on transfers of property to shareholders when a company is wound up or reduces its capital and imposing stamp duty on the value of a property where a borrower can't meet their mortgage repayments and the bank or other lender forecloses on a mortgage. (16 June)

State Taxation Acts (General Amendment) Bill

This is a bill that both implements the taxation measures announced by the government in the state budget and also contains a range of other measures, including more sneaky and nasty extensions of the tax net. (15 June)

PAEC 04-05 estimates report recommendation rejected

It is a matter of both anger and disappointment that the government in its response to the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee's report on the 2004-05 Budget Estimates has rejected in whole or in part many sensible and worthwhile recommendations of the committee. (15 June)

Emergency Services Superannuation (Amendment) Bill

This is a bill the main purpose of which is very straightforward -- namely, to amend the provisions relating to the emergency services superannuation scheme so that that scheme will pay taxed benefits as defined under the commonwealth Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 rather than untaxed benefits. (25 May)

Energy Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill

This is a bill that has four purposes. The first is to amend the Electricity Safety Act 1998 in relation to the definition of what is required to be achieved in order for an electrical safety management scheme to be acceptable. The second is to amend the Electricity Industry Act 2000 in relation to the methodology for determining amounts payable by generation companies for land use. The third purpose is to amend the Gas Industry Act 2001 to provide that a review of VENCorp may be undertaken before 2007. The fourth is to amend the Fuel Emergency Act 1977 in relation to proclamations declaring a state of emergency due to a fuel shortage. (25 May)

Brumby's land tax hoax - Labor forced to admit increases

Treasurer John Brumby has admitted that his much touted land tax changes were based on expected increases in property valuations - that means higher land tax bills for Victorians next year despite the claimed "cuts". (20 May)

"A Fairer Victoria" - Matter of Public Importance

A Fairer Victoria is that it shows no signs of its having actually assessed the causes of the serious problems faced by many children, families and young people in Victoria and intelligently framed and put together strategies that will effectively tackle them. (18 May)

Victorian budget raises national tax, infrastructure and debt issues

The 2005-06 Victorian state budget raises issues of taxation, infrastructure and debt relevant to state governments around Australia. (5 May)

Budget Reply speech

This year's state budget is more of the same from the Bracks government. There is lots of rhetoric, lots of spending and lots of taxing, but there is little prospect that this year's budget will prove any more successful than previous budgets in reversing the decline in key government services or getting vital infrastructure projects built on time and within budget.  See also edited text with charts. (5 May)

Budget: Lots of promises, few solutions

The State Budget has lots of spending and project announcements, but no sign that the promises will actually reverse declines in government services, or get projects built on time or on budget. (4 May)

Labor fails again on land tax

Labor's second attempt in two years to fix Victoria's land tax crisis will see most taxpayers still paying more land tax next year than they paid last year. (4 May)

State budget: Labor must take responsibility

On what is known so far, the State Budget looks set to tax a lot but achieve little. The Bracks Government has plenty of revenue available from ever-increasing taxes and higher Commonwealth grants. The test will be how it uses these windfall gains. (2 May)

Land tax crisis is due to government policy

Labor has a deliberate government policy to increase revenue from property taxes, compounded by Treasurer John Brumby's failure to grasp its effect on small to medium size taxpayers.  (21 Apr)

Land tax increases - Matter of Public Importance

It is not by accident that Victoria's land tax revenue has risen from $378 million in 1998-99 to $926 million this year. Nor is it accidental that at the same time as land tax has been rising stamp duty has also increased from around $1 billion in 1998-99 to over $2.2 billion this year. (20 Apr)

PAEC 03-04 outcomes report shows government failures

The report of the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee on the 2003-04 budget outcomes continues the committee's task of documenting the bungles, incompetence and failures of the Bracks government. (20 Apr)

Brumby's pokie slug risks a "lose-lose" outcome

John Brumby's doubling of the gaming machine levy without warning will undermine the gaming industry's confidence in the stability of gaming regulation and taxation in Victoria.The additional revenue that John Brumby will get from this latest levy increase may end up being more than offset by the reduced amount that Victoria will receive for the licence renewals. (14 Apr)

Land tax crisis: Bracks just doesn't get it

Victoria's land tax crisis is not just about land tax. It is about whether the Bracks government knows what it is doing. (April)

Deciding our infrastructure needs and spending

The community must be given a comprehensive assessment of the current state of our infrastructure and of the options available to meet future needs. We must conduct a dialogue about our priorities, and we must continue to improve techniques for using private sector resources and expertise. (8 Apr)

What Labor must do urgently about land tax

Five things need to be done to end the land tax crisis:
1.  Unwind the massive increases in land tax caused by last April's bungled measures.
2.  Commit to return to the past practice of frequent adjustments to the land tax scale.
3.   Scrap the use of indexation factors, and base tax bills on individual property valuations.
4.  Ensure that land valuations are based on genuine assessments of the market value of sites.
5.  Allow taxpayers to object to their land valuations at the time they get their land tax bills. (5 Apr)

Budget surplus shows Labor can afford land tax cuts

Victoria's reported mid-year budget surplus of $1.23 billion is mainly due to massive unbudgeted returns on superannuation funds from the strong national stock market and growing tax and other revenue.  It shows the Government now has no excuse to continue to ignore pleas for land tax relief.  (22 Mar)

Bracks' land tax forces Whitehorse Inn to close

Hawthorn's Whitehorse Inn, run by veteran land tax campaigner Jim Ryan, has been forced to close due to further massive increases in land tax.  The land tax bill is expected to hit $40,000 this year - $7000 more than the $33,300 bill for 2004 and $38,600 more than the $1443 Mr Ryan paid in 1998. The closure will result in 17 people losing their jobs. (15 Feb)

Access Economics sound budget warning for Brumby

Economic forecasters Access Economics have warned the Bracks Government that its spending overruns will become more difficult to finance in future, presenting a test for Labor's fiscal resolve and have raised other challenges facing the budget ahead. (6 Feb)

Productivity report exposes Bracks Government mismanagement

The latest Productivity Commission Report on Government Services is further evidence that while the Bracks Government tax and spend more, Victorians do not get value for money.  Key areas are neglected while Labor wastes money on exercises such as designing new logos, buying off the unions at the MCG, and driving out the Seal Rocks operator. (28 Jan)

Valuation changes to hit property owners

Proposed changes to land valuation announced by the Government threaten to lead to higher land tax and rates.  The changes will also make it harder and more expensive for property owners to object to excessive land valuations by introducing a new fee for land owners to object to valuations, and making it more difficult for objectors to recover their legal costs. (19 Jan)

2004

Quarterly financial report - high taxing, high spending continue

The 2004-05 Quarterly Financial Report No.1 shows that the Bracks Government is continuing to raise taxes and raise spending. Compared with the September quarter last year, tax revenue is up 5.2 per cent, total revenue is up 4.5 per cent, and total spending is up 11.1 per cent. (24 Dec)

Commonwealth rescues budget from Brumby's spending blowouts

An extra $300 million of Commonwealth Government funding has saved the Bracks Government from a $211 million slump in the budget surplus this year due to further spending blowouts.   The 2004-05 Budget Update does not show sound financial management; rather that Treasurer John Brumby can't control spending and relies on unbudgeted revenue to prop up the budget. (15 Dec)

Latest figures show more land tax increases to come

Official land tax adjustment figures published by the Government show small and medium size businesses and investors across Victoria face massive increases in land tax in 2005, with more to come in 2006. (12 Dec)

Budget result leaves no excuses for Scoresby toll

The 2003-04 budget result leaves the Government with no excuses for continuing with its plan to put tolls on the Scoresby freeway. The 2003-04 Financial Report shows Victoria has a budget surplus of $990.1 million, $745.6 million higher than the $244.5 million surplus originally forecast in the State Budget, underpinned by a $380 million increase in Federal grants, and by a $1.65 billion reduction in superannuation costs. (13 Oct)

Bracks Government pays its bills late

A report by Victoria’s Auditor-General  – Report on Public Sector Agencies: Results of special reviews and other studies August 2004 – has found that 23% of all government bills are paid late even when the supplier has allowed a 30 day payment term.  The Victoria Police are the worst offenders.  (17 Aug)

Victoria's AAA rating paid for with higher taxes

Standard and Poors' announcement that it has reaffirmed Victoria's AAA credit rating reflects the fact that the Bracks Government has consistently raised Victoria's tax take to cover its spending blowouts.  (26 July)

Auditor-General's reports confirm Bracks Government can't manage

Three reports tabled by the Auditor-General have exposed a litany of bungling and mismanagement by the Bracks Government in areas including TAFE, alpine resorts, toll roads, the Overseas Projects Corporation of Victoria, investment attraction programs, Education Department budgeting and hospital emergency departments. (26 May)

Payroll tax and stamp duty extensions to raise $80 million per annum

Despite promises that there would be "no hidden nasties" in the State Budget, the Bracks Government will hit Victorian business with $80 million of extra tax each year. The Budget papers show that the Bracks Government expects to rake in $20 million a year from the extension of payroll tax and an extra $60 million a year from extensions to stamp duty. (19 May)

Victorians still slugged on stamp duty and other taxes

Victorian first homebuyers will still pay far more stamp duty than first homebuyers in NSW and Queensland, despite the temporary $5,000 grants scheme in the State budget. As well, land tax is set to jump by $148.5 million or 19.3 per cent next year, to $916.5 million.  Total taxes are forecast to hit $10,384.2 million in 2004-05, 8.2 per cent higher than this year's budgeted tax take of $9,593.2 million, which in turn was 9 per cent higher than the $8,802.7 million budgeted in 2002-03. Insurance taxes are budgeted to rise by 8.4% next year and motor vehicle taxes by 10.5%. (4 May)

Small and medium business dudded on land tax

Hopes of small and medium size businesses and landowners that they will get some land tax relief under the Government's economic statement have been dashed by an analysis of how the changes actually operate.  The owner of an $800,000 property is likely to face an increase of 30% or more in land tax next year, as rising property prices continue to push properties to higher and higher tax rates. (22 Apr)

Bracks Government seeks unlimited power to increase fees

The Bracks Government is set to give itself the power to increase Government fees and charges by an unlimited amount every year, while excluding Parliament's right to prevent these increases. (31 Mar).

Late night move to raise government charges

At 1am in the morning, the Bracks Government has introduced into Parliament a Bill to give itself the power to make across the board annual increases in State Government fees, charges and fines. However, the one page speech by Treasurer John Brumby contained no information on what fees and charges are going to be increased, or by how much. (5 Mar)

Mid-year report: more taxes and blowouts

The 2003-04 Mid-Year Financial Report shows that the government's reported surplus of $769.1 million is mainly due to continued tax slugs, the stock market recovery and an actuarial revaluation. (2 Mar)

Relief for Queensland, but Victoria's stamp duty rip-off continues

Queensland Labor Premier Peter Beattie has announced he will be bringing forward his promised cuts to stamp duty to help first homebuyers from July 1 to May 1 this year. But Mr Beattie's Victorian Labor colleagues are still refusing to give any stamp duty relief. (24 Feb)

Brumby opens way to $900 million budget black hole

Treasurer John Brumby appears to have signalled that he is prepared to grant massive pay increases for public sector workers that could blow out the state's wages bill by more than $900 million and plunge Victoria into a budget deficit of more than $300 million. (5 Feb)

Stamp duty relief for Queensland, but Victorians still fork out

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie has set a challenge for Steve Bracks and John Brumby - to ease the stamp duty burden on young families and other people struggling to buy their first home in Victoria under the highest levels of stamp duty in Australia. (29 Jan)

Government uses tax office report for propaganda

The Bracks Government has turned the latest annual review of the State Revenue Office (SRO) into yet another piece of taxpayer-funded political advertising.  The 2003 Annual Review contains six panels promoting Government policies that have nothing to do with the SRO. (21 Jan)

2003

Productivity Commission figures show Victoria has highest stamp duty

The Productivity Commission's draft Report on First Home Ownership shows that stamp duty on a median priced house in Melbourne increased by 195 per cent between June 1998 and June 2003.  In June 1998, stamp duty on a typical house was $4,960. By June 2003, it had risen on Productivity Commission figures to $14,620, the highest stamp duty in Australia on a median priced capital city house.  (18 Dec)

Budget Update shows revenue take, unbudgeted spending, continue to rise

The 2003-04 Budget Update shows that the Government is now budgeting to raise $496 million more in stamp duty and debits taxes than estimated at budget time.  It will also resume imposing dividends on the Transport Accident Commission - the main factor behind a $131 million increase in investment revenue estimates for 2003-04, and an average $169 million per annum increase for 2004-05 to 2006-07. Government wages costs are now expected to be $200 million higher this year than estimated at budget time, and $219.2 million higher in 2004-05. (4 Dec)

Auditor-General steps up warning on finances

Victoria's Auditor-General has given his strongest warning yet about the threat posed to Victoria's finances by the Government's failure to keep within its spending budgets. The State of Victoria's overall budget surplus has fallen from $2.7 billion in 1998-1999 to only $54 million in 2002-2003. The Report of the Auditor General on the Finances of Victoria 2002-2003 also reports the Government took unbudgeted dividends of $174 million from water bodies and other public authorities in 2002-03.  (20 Nov)

Stamp duty revenue increases continue

The 2003-04 Quarterly Financial Report No.1 shows that taxes on financial and capital transactions for the September quarter - most of which consists of duty on land transfers and mortgages - totaled $744 million, equal to 31.7% of the total budgeted revenue from this item for the entire 2003-04 year. The quarterly budget result was also boosted by lower superannuation costs due to stock market strength in the September quarter. However, the report also shows that the Government spent 24.9% of its total annual allocation for employee wages and other benefits in the three months to September, even though none of the major wages deals with teachers, nurses, police and public servants have yet been re-negotiated. (17 Nov)

Windfalls keep budget from deficit despite spending blowouts

The 2002-03 Financial Report shows that only unbudgeted windfall tax revenue kept the Victorian budget out of deficit last year, with stamp duty,  motoring fines and other revenue bringing in $1,348.8 million of unbudgeted windfall revenue over the year to June.    At the same time, the Government ran up unbudgeted spending blowouts of more than $1,634.6 million, including a $501.4 million over-run on public sector wages. (27 Oct)

NSW acted on First Home grants two years ago

The NSW Treasurer, Michael Egan, has revealed that he warned the Victorian Government more than two years ago about possible abuses of the First Home Owners Scheme (FHOS).   While Victoria has taken no action until recently, New South Wales amended its legislation in April 2001 to insert into their Act an express requirement that a FHOS applicant be at least 16 years old unless the NSW taxation commissioner is satisfied the application is not part of an avoidance scheme. (15 Oct)

ABS data show jump in Victorian public sector wages and number of employees

Figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that Victoria's public sector wages bill grew by 10.3% in the year to June, the highest growth of any State in Australia, and that over the year to May, an extra 5,800 public sector employees were added to the payroll, a 2.4% increase - also the largest of any State. (26 Sept)

Taxes and charges indexation commences

July 1st marks the increase in various State Government taxes and charges, and the commencement of annual indexation of charges. Motor registration fees will rise by $17 to $157, taking the total cost of registering the typical family car to well over $500 a year. Other fees and fines set to increase include driver's licences and learner's permits, traffic fines, fishing licences, boat registrations, birth, marriage and death certificates and business registration fees. (30 June)

Victorian public sector wages blowout continues

Figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that Victoria's public sector wages bill grew by 9.6% in the year to March, the highest growth of any State in Australia. (26 June)

Extension of payroll tax grouping threatens franchisees, contractors

The Government has introduced legislation to group businesses for payroll tax whenever one business has an agreement with another business to provide services, and those services are performed by employees of the first business.  This means that small businesses such as franchisees and cleaning contractors may be grouped with their franchisor or their client, and made liable to pay payroll tax if the combined wages bill exceeds $550,000. (3 June)

Budget: rising taxes and debt but services still cut and promises broken

The State Opposition says that the Victorian budget continues the tax slug on motorists and property owners, relies on rising government debt, and yet still shelves or delays numerous election promises. (8 May) [Full budget reply speech: view Hansard; view table and charts; download speech, table and charts (pdf, 231kb)]

Labor can't blame drought for budget difficulties

The Bracks Government is not entitled to blame drought, bushfires or international factors for the tight financial situation it concealed from voters at last year's early State election, the State Opposition says. (6 Feb)

Budget update confirms spending blowouts

The Budget Update shows that, compared with the May budget, there has been an unbudgeted $680.2 million increase in spending for 2002-03 and a total increase in spending of $1,961.3 million over 2002-03 and the next three years.  Of the $1,961.3 million increase, only $662 million represents policy initiatives. The rest represents further wage cost increases, superannuation blowouts and items described as "expenditure reclassifications" and "other administrative variations". (15 Jan)

2002

Liberals' commitments costed, affordable, responsible

The Liberal Party says its election policies are costed, affordable and responsible, achieving a budget surplus of at least $100 million over each year of the forward estimates period, with an average surplus of $197 million, and with capital commitments totalling $1.7 billion on the forward estimates period. (28 Nov)

Liberals to give stamp duty relief

The Liberal Party has promised if elected to cut stamp duty stamp duty on all purchases of property of $580,000 or less, providing a stamp duty reduction for around 90% of residential property purchasers and cutting more than $1,000 off the cost of a median priced Melbourne house (22 Nov - see Stamp Duty - Time for relief (MS Word))

ALP campaign launch fails to disclose financial facts

The Premier's campaign launch failed to tell voters that Victoria's economy is forecast by State and Commonwealth Treasury Departments to fall below the national growth rate this financial year, that future budget surpluses have been revised downward the in Pre-Election Budget Update, that Labor's spending is rising faster than income and that only windfall tax gains kept the budget out of the red last year, nor did it explain how the Government was going to sustain its spending without increasing taxes, according to the Liberal Party. (18 Nov)

Economist warns that surplus requires spending restraint

The Liberal Party says that Dr Ed Shann's warning on ABC TV news that the Budget surplus depends on considerable restraint in spending over future years is spot on - the problem is that Labor just can't control its spending. On budget forecasts, over the next four years expenditure will increase by $2 billion but income will rise by only $1.7 billion. (16 Nov)

Figures confirm Labor can't control its spending

Pre-Election Budget Update figures show that since the May Budget Labor has blown out spending by $637 million and confirm the Auditor-General's warning that if Labor's spending blowouts continue any economic downturn will put at risk the Government's capacity to continue existing programs, according to the Liberal Party. (15 Nov)

Labor must publish its election costings

The Liberal Party has called on the ALP to publish its election policy costings on its web site as the Liberal Party has done, particularly since Labor is claiming that many of its policies will be paid for out of existing funds (11 Nov)

Brumby's false costing claims

The Liberal Party has pointed out that, contrary to Labor's claims, using the methodology and figures used in the State budget, its election promises to date leave a $398 million operating surplus in 2003-04 and $1.1 billion unallocated in capital works money over the three years of the forward estimates. (10 Nov)

Brumby's overseas share market punt goes wrong

The State Opposition has revealed that Treasurer, John Brumby, appears to have cost Victorian taxpayers millions of dollars through a May 2001 authorisation of Victorian public sector superannuation funds and other public bodies increasing their investments in overseas shares and other assets to up to 40 per cent of their total investment portfolios, up from a previous limit of 30 per cent. (16 Oct)

Unfunded liabilities still under wraps

The State Opposition has renewed its call for disclosure of superannuation losses, pointing out that buget figures show that for every 1% fall in domestic and
international equity prices the state budget loses $49 million and that etween 30 June and 30 September, Australian share prices dropped by 6.5% and US share prices by around 17%. (10 Oct)

Call for disclosure of superannuation losses

The State Opposition has called on the Government to release full details of the unfunded liabilities of Victorian public sector superannuation funds following heavy markets falls, after the Finance Minister confirmed the Government receives quarterly market reports. (8 Oct)

Budget spending fails to deliver results

Misdirected spending, poor priorities and budget blowouts meant that services to Victorians had deteriorated or remained unchanged despite increased spending by
the Bracks Government, the State Opposition said in its official budget reply given in State Parliament. (16 May)

Budget: the tax slug continues

The State Budget shows record tax levels set to be collected next financial year, totalling a $2,717 million increase since the Bracks Government came to office, approaching $1,500 for every Victorian household after allowing for taxes replaced by the GST. (7 May)

Labor's business statement brings little joy

The State Opposition says that even after the Bracks Government's business statement, the Government is proposing to give only $190 million of so-called tax cuts in 2002-03, compared with an ongoing tax level more than $1.7 billion higher than when it came to office, and the statement gives nothing back toVictorian homebuyers who have been slugged with a 79% increase in the stamp duty take. (22 Apr)

Bracks to hand out tax crumbs earlier

The Bracks Government's reported decision to bring forward by a year $50 million of previously announced payroll tax cuts will return to taxpayers only a few
crumbs from the almost $1 billion in unbudgeted additional tax and other revenue being raked in by the Government in the current financial year, according to the Opposition. (17 Apr)

Tax increase threat adds to Brumby's ripoff

The Treasurer, Mr Brumby, has threatened to increase Victorian taxes as a result of his dispute with the Commonwealth over petrol tax indexation payments.  (22 Mar)

Mid-year report confims high taxing and spending

Victoria's 2001-02 Mid-Year Financial Report shows the Bracks Government has continued its high taxing and uncontrolled spending in the six months to December 2001, and confirms that if it were not for almost $1 billion in unbudgeted revenue, the 2001-02 budget would now be almost $200 million in deficit. (15 Mar)

Taxes and spending continue to rise

Victoria's budget update shows the Bracks Government is collecting almost $1 billion more in tax and other revenue and spending over $700 million more in operating expenses than budgeted in last May's 2001-02 State budget. (15 Jan)

2001

Audit changes raise fears of fines and restricted access

Proposed changes to the Audit Act include provisions which may result in journalists and media outlets being fined for publishing information from proposed Auditor-General's reports before the reports are tabled in Parliament. The changes also give the media and the public no rights to be notified of or obtain copies of reports of the Auditor-General which are lodged with the Parliament when Parliament is not sitting. (27 Nov)

State's financial results confirm high taxes

The State Opposition says that the State's annual financial results confirm that the Bracks Government has been reaping enormous taxation increases from the strong economy and housing sector created by the Howard Government's low interest rates and First Home Owners Grant, and that the Government has scope to implement a 0.5% payroll tax cut in order to stimulate confidence and stem the exodus of jobs to other states. (24 Oct)

2000-01 budget surplus confirmed

The Victorian Government budget sector operating surplus for 2000-01 was $1,217 million - a slight increase on the revised estimate of $1,199 million published in the May budget, and the Treasurer believes GSP growth for 2000-01 will be 2.5 per cent, above the national growth of 1.9 per cent. (24 Oct).  The Minister for Finance has also released further details of the 2000-01 Financial Report for the State of Victoria. (29 Oct)

Government seeks 100,000 sq metres of office space

The Government is seeking to lease up to 100,000 square metres of office space due to the expiration of existing leases and a plan to consolidate office needs. (9 Oct)

Check your property valuations

The State Opposition has urged businesses and investment property owners to check the valuations of their properties on their municipal rate notices ahead of possible large increases in their 2002 land tax bills next year. (3 Oct)

(This page was resumed in September 2001, following Robert Clark's appointment as Shadow Treasurer and Shadow Minister for Finance, updating having previously ceased from September 2000.)

2000

State gaming revenue to rise in 2000-01

Total revenue from gambling in Victoria is set to rise in 2000-2001, with total state revenue of $1593.3 million, an increase of $68.5 million on 1999-2000, after adjustment for GST, the Opposition has claimed. (7 Sep)

$500,000 WorkCover shortfall for Country Fire Authority

More than $500,000 of additional funding to country firefighting will be wasted if the Government fails to compensate the CFA for an increase in WorkCover costs, which has left the authority $540,000 over budget, according to the Opposition. (30 Aug)

WorkCover leaves fire brigade $600,000 short

Fire services in Melbourne will be cut or overtime bans placed on firefighters if the Government fails to compensate the Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Brigade for an increase in WorkCover costs, which were $600,000 over budget, according to the Opposition. (26 Aug)

Compensation call for disability services hit by WorkCover premiums

The Opposition has called on the Government to compensate disability services for the cost of its WorkCover policy in light of "massive cost increases". (3 Aug)

Footy tipping tax take "rips funds from social clubs"

The Opposition says that the Government's recently announced football tipping competition represents an expansion of its tax take which will lead to funds being "ripped out" of community groups, social clubs and the networks that run tipping competitions. (3 Aug)

Guidelines raise "funny money" fears

According to the State Opposition, the Government's release of new guidelines for private investment in public infrastructure highlights the lack of  new major infrastructure projects under the Bracks Government and also raises concerns about a possible return to the disguised borrowing and other "funny money" deals of the Cain and Kirner Governments. (27 June)

New investment guidelines released

The Government has released new guidelines for private investment in public infrastructure, called Partnerships Victoria, replacing the Infrastructure Investment Policy for Victoria guidelines of the previous Government.  Under the new guidelines, the Government says that typically the private sector would build, own and maintain the infrastructure while the public sector would continue to provide the core public services to the community using that infrastructure.  (27 June)

Community Support Fund restructured

The Government has announced revised guidelines for the CSF, under which the Government says $100 million of annual CSF funding will be spent in three main areas of "Promoting Responsible Gambling", "Community Building" and "Broader Community Benefit".  The Government has also established a "Community Advisory Council" of Government appointees to "oversee" the Fund. (20 June)

"Splurge" budget risks blowouts

The Opposition has criticised the State budget for "splurging" the significant surplus inherited from previous government, lack of tax cuts and infrastucture investment, and exposure to risk of blowouts. (11 May)

Government introduces "Financial Responsibility" Bill

The Government has introduced into Parliament legislation requiring the Auditor-General to review the State Budget financial estimates each year. The Bill also provides for quarterly Budget Sector financial reports and a half-yearly budget update, twice yearly statements of the Government's financial policy objectives and strategies, a requirement for the Government to state the assumptions and risk assessments on which the Budget is based and a pre-election Budget update by the Secretary of the Department of Treasury and Finance when a general election is called. The Bill does not require the Auditor-General to oversee a substantial budget surplus each year, despite the ALP election policy to this effect. (2 Mar)

1999

2002

The Liberal Party has rejected incorrect claims by the Treasurer, Mr Brumby, about the cost of Liberal election policies. (27 Nov)

The Liberal Party has attacked ALP election claims that it has lived within its budget means, pointing out that Labor has spent more than budgeted for in every year since elected. (25 Nov)

The Liberal Party has called on the Premier, Mr Bracks to answer questions  at the ALP campaign launch how the he proposes to pay for future ALP spending and campaign promises.  (18 Nov)

The State Opposition has called on the Government to give genuine taxation relief in the State budget. (20 Apr)

2001

The Government says more than $10 million in unclaimed money has been returned to Victorians in the last two years with $125 million in 6.5 million individual amounts still to be claimed. (22 Oct)

The State Opposition has condemned claims by the Treasurer that real estate agents were engaging in a campaign to lower stamp duty rates in order to raise the commissions they could charge on property sales. (10 Oct)

The State Opposition has urged businesses and investment property owners to check the valuations of their properties on their municipal rate notices ahead of possible large increases in their 2002 land tax bills next year. (3 Oct)

The first seven Ballarat State Revenue Office employees have completed their training and begun work with the processing of First Home Owners Grant applications.   They will move into the new SRO building in the Ballarat Technology Park when it is completed in March next year. (17 Sep)

The Government has called for tenders for an on-line procurement system. (17 Sep)

2000

The Opposition says Victorians are being over-taxed by the Government levying stamp duties on top of GST inclusive prices for insurance and vehicle transfers. (21 July)

(Unfortunately, news items have not been included between 10 March and 9 May, due to pressure of other commitments.)

The Government has introduced legislation to alter a number of state tax arrangements and charges, consistent with the State Government's obligations under the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) on the GST between the Commonwealth and all States. (2 Mar)

The Government has introduced legislation to provide first home owners with a one-off grant of $7,000 to offset the cost of houses arising from the introduction of the GST. (2 Mar)

The Government proposes to remove the 2% bookmaker turnover stamp duty, as part of the GST implementation arrangements, but introduce a 1% turnover levy for industry promotion. (1 Mar)

Standard and Poors have maintained the AAA credit rating of Victoria restored by the previous Government.  (23 Dec)

1999

The Government has announced the establishment of an Audit Review panel to examine major contracts entered into by the previous government. (15 Dec)

The Minister for Finance has announced a review of the State Government's purchasing and contracting framework. (15 Nov)

The Premier and Treasurer has made a number of questionable assertions in tabling the 1998-99 State Financial Report, which showed that the State budget sector achieved a surplus of some $1.7 billion in 1998-99. (11 Nov)

Minister for Gaming, Roger Hallam, responding to comments by the Leader of the Opposition, said that taxation arrangements for gambling and lotteries under the GST were not "secret" and that none of the revenue that the State currently collects through gambling taxes would be put at risk. (1 July)

Operators of wheelchair-accessible taxis will enjoy significant savings on stamp duty as a result of a bill introduced into Parliament to amend the Stamps Act 1958. (23 April)

The Government will legislate to to reinstate liability to stamp duty on changes in a beneficial interest in real property, following a recent Court of Appeal decision. (4 Jan)

1998

The Government has announced changes to eradicate alleged abuse of payroll tax and WorkCover exemptions offered for apprentices and trainees. (31 Dec)

The Premier argues that financial subsidies paid to Queensland should be reviewed in light of a foreshadowed abolition of stamp duty on share transactions by the Queensland Government.

Page last changed Sunday, 24-Jul-2005 01:34:25 EDT