Taxation
David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:02): (878) My question is for the Treasurer. I refer to Victoria’s state taxation revenue, which as you know is money paid by Victorian families, households and businesses and spent in accordance with ERC decisions. Taxation revenue has risen from $23.2 billion in 2019–20 and is predicted to rise to $45.8 billion by 2027–28 – almost double. That is a rise from $3502 for every Victorian man, woman and child in 2019–20 to $6160 by 2027–28. Decisions leading to almost a doubling of the tax burden were made on your watch at the ERC table. I ask: do you accept any responsibility for contributing to the cost-of-living crisis by almost doubling the take of state taxes on already struggling families and businesses, or is it all Tim Pallas, Daniel Andrews and Jacinta Allan’s fault?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:03): I thank Mr Davis for his question and the opportunity to talk about the importance of supporting families in Victoria struggling with cost-of-living pressures. That is why we are a government that is focused on ensuring that those parents of children at state schools and those in non-government schools that are doing it tough receive the school saving bonus. This has been an extremely popular measure – $400 going straight into the pocket of parents to spend on uniforms et cetera.
David Davis: On a point of order, President, this is clearly a question to the Treasurer about tax. It is not about schools spending. She should come back to answering the question directly and not go off on a frolic.
The PRESIDENT: I believe the Treasurer was relevant to the question.
Jaclyn SYMES: Mr Davis, you specifically asked me about the government’s approach to cost of living, and it is why we are absolutely focused on the pressures that are on families. It is why we have free dental, free glasses and free kinder. There are a range of measures that we are all about, and I am hearing a chorus from behind me in relation to the measures of support that are the focus of this government’s attention on hardworking families and the pressures that they are under. Of course balancing cost-of-living pressures, ensuring that we are supporting those most in need, has to be balanced with ensuring that we have the revenue for the state to deliver the infrastructure and the services that Victorians rely on, whether that is road, that is rail or that is hospitals – a range of services that the government must provide to the community. It is all about balance, Mr Davis, but I can assure you, as the Treasurer, my focus is on the cost-of-living pressures of Victorian families, and that is what you will see as a feature of the upcoming budget.
David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:05): I noticed that the Treasurer hardly went near the issue of the $3500 for every man, woman and child in 2019, up to $6160 in 2027–28. She said it is all about the balance. Does the Treasurer believe, or is it the Treasurer and the government’s position, that it is balanced to double the tax take on families in such a short period of time?
The PRESIDENT: I kind of feel that was close to asking the Treasurer for her opinion, but I will call the Treasurer.
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:06): Mr Davis, you have repeated effectively elements of your substantive question in your supplementary question. As I will repeat, considering you have, we are a government that is focused on ensuring that the revenue that comes into the state delivers the services and the priorities that Victorians rely on. You cannot deliver for the priorities of Victorians without spending the revenue that you reap.