Tuesday, 31 October 2023

Taxation

Matthew BACH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (17:20): (544) My adjournment matter is on a slightly different topic. It is regarding tax policy here in Victoria, so my adjournment matter is to the Treasurer, and the action that I seek is for him to guarantee that the government will not introduce a tax on sugary drinks – so-called sugar-sweetened beverages. I am concerned about this matter in particular because numerous so-called public health bodies are now pushing the government to go further when it comes to sugary drinks. It is understood that ordinarily tax policy in this area sits predominantly with the federal government, but nonetheless I am concerned because this government has shown a predilection to tax just about anything and to even introduce taxes that are illegal, so I do not think we can simply say that ordinarily this is a tax base that sits with the federal government.

I read recently something that I had heard some time ago but then forgotten, and that is that former Labor Treasurer of New South Wales Michael Costa once threatened to write a book entitled I’m Fat, Ugly and Stupid: What’s the Government Going to Do about It? I hear language from this government that on the face of it sounds fine, sounds caring, regarding some of the issues that Victorians face, and yet I am concerned that there is a creeping view in Victoria – certainly amongst some of our public health establishment – that the government should be doing more to solve basic problems that in my view we as individuals should be seeking to solve for ourselves.

I am sure there are many good people working across public health in Victoria. However, a portion of our public health establishment is a cabal of mendacious rent-seekers who are seeking to destroy all joy in people’s lives. My view is that if people wish to drink sugary soft drinks they should be able to drink sugary soft drinks. If people wish to eat a packet of Doritos, as I did only a few moments ago, they should be able to do that. Victoria is in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis. This government has increased taxes so many times I have lost count. I think it is now 52 –

Georgie Crozier: Fifty-two.

Matthew BACH: Thank you, Ms Crozier, 52 times, and the momentum around more sin taxes is growing. I am sad to say it was a centre-right government in the UK a few years ago that introduced more taxes on sugary drinks. There is a movement around KFC at the moment – I do not eat much KFC – to ban advertising of KFC. The action that I seek from the Treasurer is for him to rule out further sin taxes, especially regarding sugary food and drink.