Tuesday, 17 October 2023
Business of the house
Program
Program
That, under standing order 94(2), the orders of the day, government business, relating to the following bills be considered and completed by 5 pm on 19 October 2023:
Gambling Legislation Amendment Bill 2023
Special Investigator Repeal Bill 2023
State Taxation Acts and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2023.
We have certainly had a sombre start to this week’s sitting as the house took time to condole all those who have lost their lives, and their impacted families, in the Israel and Gaza region, when the house took the opportunity to condemn the acts of the terrorist organisation Hamas. I want to use this opportunity to thank all members of the house for the way in which they attended to this very sombre motion today. I think it was very much appreciated by those from impacted communities who came in to observe that debate.
As a consequence, we are getting to our government business program at 4 pm on the first day, but we have a very busy week ahead of us, with some substantial bills to be debated in this place, all of which deliver on the Allan Labor government’s commitment and work to continue to get things done for the people of Victoria. That is the approach of our government. It is the commitment of our government. It is the way in which all members on this side of the house approach every single day – focused on the needs of Victorians; ensuring that we come into this place; that we bring the concerns, the aspirations and the wishes of our community to this place; and that we deliver the legislation that is required to meet those needs, those aspirations and those wishes.
The Gambling Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 continues to respond to the work of the Royal Commission into the Casino Operator and Licence, and I really want to take this moment to congratulate the Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation for the work that she has done. I know many members on this side of the chamber are really looking forward to talking to this bill. All of us have stories, as members in this place, from constituents whose lives have been turned upside down because of the losses associated with gambling – the real and terrible impacts that gambling can have on the lives of so many people. I know that people will be sharing both those experiences of their constituents and indeed in some instances perhaps even their own lived experience.
The State Taxation Acts and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2023 – I know that those on the other side are probably champing at the bit to speak to this bill. Well, let me tell you, so are we on this side of the house, because we are really conscious of the way that this bill seeks to increase housing supply across this state. It is making sure that we address the issues related with the unconscionable number of vacant houses that currently exist in this state. We are making sure that land bankers will pay the price of not developing the properties that they acquire. This government is serious about bringing on more housing supply, and that is exactly what this bill goes to. So once again, there will be many people on this side of the house looking forward to explaining to those opposite what this bill delivers. They can dress it up however they like. They can stay on the side of land bankers or people that acquire many, many properties. They could do that, but we will take the opportunity to outline to the house the real intent of this bill.
Finally, having concluded their work, there is a bill to repeal the Office of the Special Investigator. So once again, it is a full program of business. I commend the government business program to the house.
James NEWBURY (Brighton) (16:03): I rise to speak on the government business program for the week, which does propose three bills, and in doing so I do feel that it is important to acknowledge the time the house spent this afternoon speaking to the matter of the events in Israel, the terrorist attacks in Israel, 10 days ago and the community that came in to Parliament today, both in the Queens Hall and out on the steps. Hundreds of members of the Jewish community came in to hear both sides of the chamber speak to those matters and show their solidarity and support. It was an important opportunity to see both sides of the chamber with the community, outside the chamber and on the steps.
In terms of the government business program itself, I move an amendment:
That the words ‘State Taxation Acts and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2023’ be omitted.
I move the amendment on the basis that the government have put forward a bill and should not be surprised that only two weeks ago, when they introduced it into the Parliament and the community, the property sector and, frankly, mum-and-dad home owners all very quickly expressed their deep concern about what was being proposed with the bill and the pernicious nature of the bill, the coalition moved that the community should be given more time to consider the impact of that bill, and the amendment that I move today on behalf of the coalition is in aid of that. In the same spirit that we sought to extend the amount of time that the bill would be laid on the table, this amendment would seek to take that item off the government business program so that the community can be fully across or better across what is being proposed – a bill that we know the community had incredibly deep concerns about when the bill was first introduced, and I will not go into the details of that. Those have been covered quite extensively in the media – a surprise introduction, some might say, a surprise announcement. The industry was very quick to point out their concerns. I will not quote them again, because I do not think that it would go to the matter of the question before us. But it would be fair to say there were genuine concerns by industry that what was being proposed was being proposed without any notice, and all industry was asking for was time to understand what was being proposed and an opportunity to provide feedback on that. That is what the amendment that I move today is in aid of.
Over the last week we have had a government briefing on the bill, and there are genuine concerns. There are genuine, detailed concerns that we have with the bill and what is being proposed. There were some pretty troubling details provided in that briefing around people who own homes having to provide receipts of where they shop nearby to prove they are using their own homes. That is what we are talking about here. We are talking about a new tax that is being extended to people on their own homes – people who work hard, people who save and buy a second property and will now in some circumstances have their water and sewage sifted through to work out how often they are at the site. I moved the amendment in the hope that the government will consider a fair and reasonable attempt by the coalition – we have heard from the industry, we have heard from the community about their concerns about this bill, and we would say to the government, ‘Don’t be arrogant. Provide the community, provide industry, with an opportunity to understand what’s being proposed. Provide an opportunity for the community to understand what’s being proposed.’ That is what this amendment would seek to do. Initially we proposed an extra two weeks – and we would accept the extra two weeks if that is the way the government saw fit – to provide industry with an opportunity to understand the new measures in the bill, especially ones around spying on home owners.
Paul EDBROOKE (Frankston) (16:08): Thank you for that eye-opening speech. I will start by saying that again, ipso facto, here we are. We are in Parliament. It is a Tuesday. The members of the opposition are opposing the government business program and putting up amendments. It is almost like they will lose the division at the end of this if they call for one. This is a very important government business program. We heard from people only 5 minutes ago speaking about why the gambling reforms are so important. I can confirm and concur that there are an estimated 330,000 Victorians every year who experience harm from gambling, and it costs an estimated $7 billion a year for Victorians. This Gambling Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 of course came out of an inquiry focused on those who experience harm. I know there are plenty of people on this side of the house who will be champing at the bit to speak on that and make sure that we give that a good argument and get behind it. We know that, for some, gambling is a bit of a pastime they might do once on a weekend for an AFL footy game or something like that. But for many it is not a benign activity – it is an addiction – and these reforms are sensible, they are proportionate and they are necessary to prevent and reduce the harm from gambling in our community. I know that in this house there are members of several communities and they will speak on behalf of their communities and share some stories. They are communities that are well over-represented as far as statistics for gambling harm go.
Of course we on this side of the house are very, very happy to speak on the State Taxation Acts and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2023. I will be focusing my remarks, as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, on two specific bits of this bill, and one is obviously the changes to the vacant residential land tax, which will be put in place to encourage more existing properties to be made available to renters right across Victoria and encourage faster development of vacant land in established areas of Melbourne. But there are also the changes to protect consumers by prohibiting property developers and others from passing through their tax liabilities to often unsuspecting purchasers.
To provide some context around this – again, it was mentioned previously the position we find ourselves in statewide and nationwide – right across the nation housing is one of the biggest challenges we face at the moment. The latest data shows that in June this year housing affordability in Australia crashed to its lowest in 30 years. We are talking about not just houses and homes, we are talking about a roof over someone’s head – a very, very basic human right. We have seen successive rate hikes and booming housing prices, and that means it is harder than ever to service a mortgage. This government has chosen to do something. If you are in the cheap seats over there today –
A member interjected.
Paul EDBROOKE: Well, it is not the nosebleed section. We will find that there are people on the opposite side of the house that want to go the low road with the state taxation bill. They will pick it apart however they can. It is a pretty solid bill – it is very hard to do. The issue we have is that you can sit over there and do nothing or you can actually build houses, you can change policy in planning to make sure that there is more housing available and you can introduce levies to make sure that short-stay accommodation comes onto the market and actually funds more housing. That is what this government is busy doing. And I for one, like most of my colleagues here – let me know if you are proud too – am very proud to be standing up in full support of this government business program.
We have got some other bills that have been introduced that we will be speaking on today, and they are very important too. But for me, with housing being one of the biggest challenges we face, we need to do something. It is this government – this progressive government – that is actually taking that on, being brave, being bold and ignoring those sticks in the mud that say, ‘Sorry, we can’t do this. We can’t make change to make our brothers and sisters in our community that haven’t got homes actually get a roof over their head’. I think those people and anyone that is trying to deny this government business program and is wasting time on that need to have a good look in the mirror and talk to their constituents, especially people that might be struggling with homelessness or struggling to get a house these days. I commend the government business program to the house.
Jade BENHAM (Mildura) (16:13): I rise to speak on the government business program today – another week, another tax, it seems. But I do want to first start by echoing the member for Brighton’s sentiments and acknowledging what has already occurred in this place today, and that is the condolence motion and adjourning for an hour to recognise the horrific occurrences in Israel over the last 10 days. I also want to support the member for Brighton’s amendment removing the State Taxation Acts and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2023, allowing more time – an extra two weeks would be fantastic. This bill has caused quite a lot of alarm. We are getting phone calls daily and I am having people stop me in the street to ask about this, particularly in regions and small towns, where the message has not been clear – what a surprise – and particularly for vacant houses and vacant land. Maybe it does not happen so much in other places, but I know out in the regions in small towns buying a block of land and gifting that to children on occasions when they are to marry or when they come back – it is not so much land banking if there is rural land or rural lifestyle blocks available – will happen. That is a common occurrence, and that will then turn into housing for new families to keep them in the regions into the future, which is actually quite a valuable tool. It encourages those young families to come back after they may have moved away for university or for a career et cetera. More consultation is needed on that.
We are also getting concerned real estate agents who are reporting that initially, when the land tax and the land windfall tax was introduced, they were losing north of six rental properties per week to be sold to owner-occupiers. That is still occurring. Those rental properties are being pulled from the private rental market. These investors are selling those and going into commercial real estate. Those commercial premises, whether they are shops in the main street, will remain vacant. We know what happens when you drive down small regional and rural towns with a main street full of empty shops. It is an eyesore, and it does nothing for community morale. So pushing those private investors that have had investment properties – and most the time it is only one additional property – into the commercial real estate space, where they do not actually need to put good paying tenants into those shops, is a real concern. We have had concerns from real estate agents for weeks now.
I do want to keep this brief, but I did want to support the member for Brighton in his amendment to remove the State Taxation Acts and Other Acts Amendment Bill. Let us talk about the gambling legislation. I know that we have a full program to talk about the State Taxation Acts and Other Acts Amendment Bill. There is a lot. If we can get through that entire program, it will be interesting to see, because I know that every one of the Victorian Nationals wants to have their say on all of those. The Gambling Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 has also caused concern, particularly for local operators, who might not be affected in the same way as city operators. But again, we have terrific community clubs that have machines, and they are concerned about some of how this amendment will affect them as well. There will be some great contributions. We have heard from the governing bodies over the last month. We will have some great contributions from the Nationals, and I very much look forward to hearing all of those. We oppose the government business program, and I support the member for Brighton in his amendment.
Lauren KATHAGE (Yan Yean) (16:18): I must say it is a busy week ahead, and I am disappointed that we have to start slowly here. We saw fantastic collegiality and in fact probably the most important work of this Parliament earlier this morning. I join with everyone in expressing my deep sorrow for all impacted communities in what is a terrible, terrible time.
Some people impacted in our communities with gambling harm may be surprised by the member for Mildura’s concern – vague concern – that she shared about operators in her region. I look forward to her contribution on that bill so we can learn more details and specifics about the poker machine operators that she is worried about. But I cannot worry too long. We have got too much to do. We are here with our sleeves rolled up. We have got a lot of serious and substantive bills to put through the house. These are things that continue to show our government is progressing its big, bold reforms, and they also demonstrate our care and concern for the most vulnerable in our community. There can be no mistaking that people who experience gambling harm – and there are some 330,000 a year in our state – are some of the most vulnerable that we have. That is why we are continuing in our efforts to make sure that we are doing all that we can to make the operating environment as safe as possible for them. This is the next step towards that. Certainly when gambling has been raised by me previously with constituents, I have had people contacting me regarding what we are sure to hear other members of the house contribute today around the financial distress, mental health concerns, relationship issues and the intersection between gambling and family violence. So I look forward to hearing from members on this side and the other, especially those members who come from the outer suburban areas going into regional such as me, because we know that sometimes a venue with poker machines is the only social space available. I look forward to hearing contributions on that.
The member for Brighton’s surprise at the State Taxation Acts and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2023 surprised me. I was surprised at his surprise. Why would he be surprised that the Labor government is busy getting on with fixing the housing situation in this state? What is surprising about a Labor government doing everything that it can to increase supply in this state? What is surprising about a Labor government not being afraid to speak to all industries and to make sure that everybody is accountable in the way that they should be for doing the right things by Victorians who need a home? The member for Brighton is concerned about receipts and sifting through excrement. If he is worried about reading his own speeches, that is fine. But that is certainly not what I will be sifting through today.
In fact this is just one more step in our bold agenda to build more homes and free up more homes for rent. We have made no secret of it. We have made a whole housing statement of it. There are press releases that can be viewed – media releases. But do not take it from us. Take it from the people who expressed great relief at knowing that they have got a government that is not opposing and is not getting in the way of addressing the issue. They have got a government that is getting on and fixing it. People do not care what is done to slow down what is happening in this place. They want to see real action, and that is what this government is doing – real action, getting it done, getting houses built and getting roofs over people’s heads.
Roma BRITNELL (South-West Coast) (16:23): I rise to oppose the government business program, and I do so because one of the three bills in particular that is being discussed in the Parliament this week is the State Taxation Acts and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2023, which is introducing another two taxes, taking this government’s tax numbers to 51 and 52 that they will have introduced during their term in government. These two new taxes will be added to the other 50 taxes that will continue to punish Victoria and punish Victorians because of the mismanagement of a Labor government that has been in now for over a decade and has completely and utterly sent this state into an absolute crisis financially, evidenced quite clearly by the need to continue to punish.
The lack of understanding that growth is about incentivising and assisting the community to flourish so that we can increase income is very disappointing, but that shows this government’s difficulty ability in understanding financial management. But what it really reflects for me is just how desperate the government is. Despite the debt, they cannot even show how these taxes will improve the state of Victoria. It reminds me of when I was doing my research around the world on a scholarship about a decade ago. When I went to countries like those in Eastern Europe and South America, when a jurisdiction was in real financial trouble from corruption and mismanagement of finances what you saw out in the regions was that the roads were in a parlous state, just like we are seeing in south-west Victoria and right across regional Victoria. You can see in the member for Ripon’s seat, not far from me, that the state of the roads is appalling, as they are in South-West Coast. This is a reflection of a government that has forgotten its regions and has not got the money to do what it is responsible for, which is to govern right across the state.
The State Taxation Acts and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2023, with the two new taxes, demonstrates how the government just have not got the money to do the responsible things they have to. The Minister for Environment is at the table. Just two days ago I was shown around the showgrounds in my electorate, an asset which belongs to the government. During a recent storm the roof blew off the poultry shed. They showed me the disrepair of the showgrounds – it has gotten so bad that during a windstorm they lost the roof. They went to the government and said, ‘Can we have some money to fix the roof?’ We are talking about a tenant asking their landlord for a roof over the shed for events. You would think that it was a basic, fundamental requirement of a landlord to provide a roof for a tenant. However, they were told that it is their problem, that the government cannot help and to go away and fix it themselves. The show is on later this month. They showed me that the electrics are very dangerous – when it is wet, they short out. They also showed me the potholes on the road inside the showgrounds, around the edge of the arena, and how WorkSafe are calling that out.
Pauline Richards: On a point of order, Deputy Speaker, this is a tight procedural discussion about the government business program. I would ask you to bring the member back to the government business program.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The debate is on the government business program motion and the member for Brighton’s amendment to it. The member was coming back to the relevance of her comments to the government business program, I am sure.
Roma BRITNELL: I was talking about the fact that on the government business program motion members on the other side have been talking about how they feel it is important that this tax that they are introducing will provide relief for the housing crisis and provide more assistance to renters, and I was referring to the fact that when it comes to the assets that this state is responsible for, that the government is responsible for, there is no responsibility shown by the government to do exactly that for its tenants.
It is very disappointing that we see this government continually introducing more and more taxes but the situation for the Victorian community continuing to deteriorate. You see that with the deterioration of the roads, particularly in regional Victoria. This government has completely forgotten about its constituents in South-West Coast, where the roads are in a parlous state of disrepair. I continue to oppose this government business program because we have not had the 28 days that we requested. As a matter of respect to our Victorian community, I think it is only reasonable that we have the opportunity to consult and see what impact this will have on our community members, as I have demonstrated.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The Leader of the House has moved the government business program motion. The member for Brighton has moved an amendment to this motion. He has proposed that the words ‘State Taxation Acts and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2023’ be omitted. The question is:
That the words proposed to be omitted stand part of the question.
Members supporting the member for Brighton’s amendment should vote no.
Assembly divided on question:
Ayes (51): Juliana Addison, Jacinta Allan, Colin Brooks, Josh Bull, Anthony Carbines, Ben Carroll, Darren Cheeseman, Anthony Cianflone, Sarah Connolly, Chris Couzens, Jordan Crugnale, Lily D’Ambrosio, Steve Dimopoulos, Paul Edbrooke, Matt Fregon, Ella George, Luba Grigorovitch, Katie Hall, Paul Hamer, Martha Haylett, Mathew Hilakari, Melissa Horne, Natalie Hutchins, Lauren Kathage, Sonya Kilkenny, Nathan Lambert, Gary Maas, Alison Marchant, Kathleen Matthews-Ward, Steve McGhie, Paul Mercurio, John Mullahy, Tim Pallas, Danny Pearson, Pauline Richards, Tim Richardson, Michaela Settle, Ros Spence, Nick Staikos, Natalie Suleyman, Meng Heang Tak, Jackson Taylor, Nina Taylor, Kat Theophanous, Mary-Anne Thomas, Emma Vulin, Iwan Walters, Vicki Ward, Dylan Wight, Gabrielle Williams, Belinda Wilson
Noes (28): Brad Battin, Jade Benham, Roma Britnell, Tim Bull, Martin Cameron, Annabelle Cleeland, Chris Crewther, Wayne Farnham, Sam Groth, Matthew Guy, David Hodgett, Emma Kealy, Tim McCurdy, Cindy McLeish, James Newbury, Danny O’Brien, Michael O’Brien, Kim O’Keeffe, John Pesutto, Richard Riordan, Brad Rowswell, David Southwick, Bill Tilley, Bridget Vallence, Peter Walsh, Kim Wells, Nicole Werner, Jess Wilson
Question agreed to.
Assembly divided on motion:
Ayes (51): Juliana Addison, Jacinta Allan, Colin Brooks, Josh Bull, Anthony Carbines, Ben Carroll, Darren Cheeseman, Anthony Cianflone, Sarah Connolly, Chris Couzens, Jordan Crugnale, Lily D’Ambrosio, Steve Dimopoulos, Paul Edbrooke, Matt Fregon, Ella George, Luba Grigorovitch, Katie Hall, Paul Hamer, Martha Haylett, Mathew Hilakari, Melissa Horne, Natalie Hutchins, Lauren Kathage, Sonya Kilkenny, Nathan Lambert, Gary Maas, Alison Marchant, Kathleen Matthews-Ward, Steve McGhie, Paul Mercurio, John Mullahy, Tim Pallas, Danny Pearson, Pauline Richards, Tim Richardson, Michaela Settle, Ros Spence, Nick Staikos, Natalie Suleyman, Meng Heang Tak, Jackson Taylor, Nina Taylor, Kat Theophanous, Mary-Anne Thomas, Emma Vulin, Iwan Walters, Vicki Ward, Dylan Wight, Gabrielle Williams, Belinda Wilson
Noes (28): Brad Battin, Jade Benham, Roma Britnell, Tim Bull, Martin Cameron, Annabelle Cleeland, Chris Crewther, Wayne Farnham, Sam Groth, Matthew Guy, David Hodgett, Emma Kealy, Tim McCurdy, Cindy McLeish, James Newbury, Danny O’Brien, Michael O’Brien, Kim O’Keeffe, John Pesutto, Richard Riordan, Brad Rowswell, David Southwick, Bill Tilley, Bridget Vallence, Peter Walsh, Kim Wells, Nicole Werner, Jess Wilson
Motion agreed to.