[Greens-Media] Vic parliament votes on tax cut for gas guzzlers

[Freja.Leonard at parliament.vic.gov.au]

----- Forwarded by Freja Leonard/Greens/PARL on 05/06/2007 03:56 PM -----

Greg Barber MLC <greg.barber at vic.greens.org.au> 
05/06/2007 01:53 PM

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vic parliament votes on tax cut for gas guzzlers




5 June 2007

Vic parliament votes on tax cut for gas guzzlers

The Victorian State Parliament will tonight vote on cuts to stamp duty 
for gas guzzling cars.  The Greens will move an amendment to make sure 
that hybrid vehicles pay the lowest rate of stamp duty.

Greens MLC Greg Barber said:  " We'll be voting against this tax cut and 
calling for a freeze on public transport fares instead.  Cutting $177 
million in tax on the biggest cars, in the same week the government is 
raising prices on public transport, speaks volumes about their 
priorities."

"  These cuts are targetted at the biggest cars. For example a $2280 cut 
for the Ford Territory which uses 13.1 litres/100km,"  Mr Barber said. 
Some of these large cars would probably put an additional three quarters 
of a tonne of CO2 into the air each year, compared to an average car," 
Mr  Barber said.

"  The average passenger car uses about 11 litres of fuel every 100 
kilometres. Small cars and hybrids use half that. But small cars don't 
benefit from these changes to the stamp duty tax rates as they are 
already cheaper than the lowest tax threshold," Mr Barber said.

"  Victoria has some of the most expensive public transport fares in 
Australia and will soon have some of the cheapest cars.  The number of 
vehicles on Victoria's roads has grown by over half a million in the 
life of the Bracks government.  That's because of the run down of public 
transport and the failure to extend the train, tram and bus lines as the 
city grows.  Regional areas have the same problem," Mr Barber said.

"  We'll propose an amendment so that hybrid cars will pay the lowest 
rate of stamp duty applicable under the law," Mr Barber said.

Current stamp duty rates are 2.5% below $35 000 car value, 4% between 
$35-45 000 and 5% over $45 000.  The government's proposal is to extend 
the 2.5% rate all the way up to $57 000.  According to the government's 
own figures* this will cut between $1200 and off the tax on medium and 
large cars, but give no tax cut to small cars.
* 
http://www.dpc.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/798c8b072d117a01ca256c8c0019bb01/df743c7ed6f959b0ca2572cd00032eb2!OpenDocument


For further comment please contact Greg Barber 0433 044 771

-- 
Greg Barber MLC
State Member of Parliament for Northern Metropolitan
Ph: (03) 9348 2622
Facs:  (03) 9348 2699
Suite G01, 60 Leicester Street Carlton 3053



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