Statutes Amendment (Budget Measures) Bill

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 12 September 2019.)

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (15:34): Today I rise to indicate that I will be the lead Labor speaker on this bill and that Labor will not prevent this bill from passing this council. The brevity of this bill understates the mess that the Liberal government have created for themselves in the last budget.

The bill contains only two revenue measures, a series of changes to the Mining Act to enable a very significant increase to fees levelled under the Mining Act, and new taxes, which this government is wont to bring in—

An honourable member: Revenue measures.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Revenue measures, as I think the Treasurer is fond of calling them, when he is quoted in the media as saying 'additional new revenue measures' but then claims that there will be no new taxes. It appears we need to call these 'revenue measures', not increased or new taxes. Similarly, they will enable an increase in the maximum expiation fees levied under the Road Traffic Act—new revenue measures.

That there are very few measures in this bill is, unfortunately, not surprising, given that the state budget contains $513 million in higher or new taxes, fees and charges over the budget forward estimates period—$513 million in what the Treasurer likes to call 'revenue measures'. Those additional charges include the Liberal government's land tax aggregation, which has caused a huge rift in the Liberal Party both inside parliament and out.

The legislation on land tax aggregation is still out for consultation but it is a fake and hollow consultation, with the Treasurer himself admitting in this place that there are non-negotiable aspects to it. When pressed on what those aspects were, they were pretty much all of it. That is the sort of consultation this government follows.

However, it is possible that the land tax aggregation policy might never have come to what it was if the Premier himself had bothered to turn up to budget cabinet committee meetings. We have heard time and time again, at a forum in which departments turn up to give evidence, that the Premier does not turn up to these meetings; the person in charge of the state does not turn up to meetings that decide what will be spent, what services will be provided, and what capital projects will go ahead.

As I said, this particular bill contains only two revenue-raising measures from a state budget that contains $513 million in higher or new taxes, fees and charges over the forward estimates. Those measures will touch every South Australian: a new police rent tax; a beer tax; a tradies tax; a new mining tax, a revenue measure that is a new mining tax; a wildlife park tax—and that is before we start talking about the increase in fees and charges.

We are talking about things like driver's licence renewals up by almost 5 per cent, car registration for some vehicles up over 5 per cent, public transport up, trailer registration up. This is a Treasurer who is addicted to increased and new taxes despite promises to the opposite before the election. We have heard promises to the opposite before an election before: 'We won't sell ETSA.' We can only assume that the pen is poised to increase taxes even more.

As the Treasurer has said, he intends to increase taxes more if he does not get his land tax aggregation policy through this chamber next month. With that, I indicate that we will not be obstructing this bill.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (15:38): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his wholehearted and warm support for the second reading of the bill.

Bill read a second time.

Committee Stage

Bill taken through committee without amendment.

Third Reading

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (15:40): I move:

That this bill be now read a third time.

Bill read a third time and passed.