Wednesday, 27 November 2024

 Bill TILLEY (Benambra) (19:19): (959) I wish to raise a matter for the attention of the Treasurer. The action I seek is for the Treasurer to be true to his word and provide an exemption for Australian Defence Force members from his insidious land tax grab. Back on 25 April 2017 in an Anzac Day spin job this government announced exemptions for Australian Defence Force personnel from the first home owner grant residence requirements. This meant that they did not have to live in their new homes for 12 months to remain eligible for the grant. It was trumpeted that ADF personnel often cannot live at home while they serve abroad or live on base and that this exemption would make it easier for the men and women who serve our nation. The Treasurer was quoted as saying:

These brave men and women are serving our nation abroad and interstate – the last thing they need is to be caught up in red tape and regulation.

The Minister for Veterans at the time, the Honourable John Eren, said:

Many of our Australian Defence Force members want to buy a home in Victoria, but are serving our nation elsewhere. That’s why we’re making this common sense change that recognises the special nature of their job.

I believe this exemption should be extended to the land tax. Reagan Coates is a member of the Royal Australian Air Force – not my favourite service; they are certainly the junior service in our defence force – and his primary place of residence is currently in Baranduda, just outside Wodonga. He has been posted to South Australia for the foreseeable future, so obviously he cannot live in the only property he owns, and that is in Baranduda, Victoria. He has been posted to South Australia for whatever the tenure of that posting will be. In thanks for his service to the nation from the grateful state government he received a land tax bill for $975 on 3 May 2024. Mr Coates immediately sought advice from the State Revenue Office to determine if section 83 of the Land Tax Act 2005 provided him with an exemption. Upon receiving no response for four months – yes, that is right; you heard it right, four months – he phoned the SRO to be told he should be exempt and that his matter would be escalated. He phoned again just short of the due date and was told his matter would be actioned shortly. On 24 September he received advice that he was not exempt and that his payment was overdue and would attract a further interest payment of 12.36 per cent. Further insult to injury came with the advice that his debt had been handed to a collection agency and if not paid immediately would bring about possible legal action.

Please tell me, Treasurer: is this is how the Allan Labor government treats those who serve our nation, all for the sake of a grubby cash grab? You say one thing and you do another. Be good to your word and look after our ADF personnel.