Renewable energy
David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (13:55): I want to draw the house’s attention to some serious problems in the Victorian State Taxation Acts and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2023. I am particularly concerned about material that has been provided to me by the Clean Energy Council which points to the government’s determination to jack up the fire services property levy on a whole series of renewable projects. Whether they be wind farms, whether they be solar – whatever your view about these matters, it is clear that the Labor Party are after them for more tax, and they are going after them very hard indeed. That is despite an important case in 2020 where the Supreme Court found that fixtures on land for a renewable energy project were not part of the improved value, so the Labor Party here is going after these renewable energy projects despite and in the face of a Supreme Court ruling. What they want to do is overturn the Supreme Court, the umpire in this case, and they want to stop those projects proceeding. They are going to make it more difficult and more costly. I note, bizarrely, we have got the federal minister making announcements about huge flows of additional money for renewable projects at the same time you have got the state government proposing to rip out money from renewable projects. I say they should desist. I say again that this is a government of tax, tax, tax. This is where the Treasurer is heading, and it will impact on the reliability and ability to get up renewable projects. We understand we need more renewable projects.