From 1 July, thousands of state government fees and charges will be increased by hundreds of dollars in some cases, adding further fuel to Victorian families’ cost of living crisis.
The increase will hammer small businesses in particular as they struggle to recover and rebuild from the economic devastation wrought by Daniel Andrews’ world’s longest lockdown.
A breakdown of the increases has revealed:
- The Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions will increase 315 fees and charges;
- The Environment Protection Authority will increase 45;
- The Department of Justice and Community Safety will increase 288;
- Victoria Police will increase 29;
- The Department of Health will increase 78;
- The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning will increase 639;
- Court Services will increase 580;
- VicRoads will increase 93, and;
- The Department of Education and Training will increase 81.
While “the Victorian Government requires every department to publish all fees and fines that are automatically indexed on their respective internet sites by 1 July each year”, the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing appears to be in breach of the requirement, with its internet site stating only “For information about the operation and payment of specific fees, please contact the department”.
With the Daniel Andrews-created Department of Families, Fairness and Housing apparently in breach of his own rules by not publishing its indexed fees, clearly many more than 2,150 fees and charges will increase on 1 July.
Labor has introduced more than 40 new or increased taxes since coming to office, despite then Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews making the solemn promise in a television interview on the night before the 2014 election not to increase or introduce new taxes.
Under the Andrews Labor Government, Victorian tax revenue has increased by 80 per cent from $16.9 billion in 2013-14 to a forecast $30.5 billion in 2022-23.
Despite this massive increase in tax revenue, the consequence of Labor’s incompetence is net debt rising from $22.3 billion in 2014-15 to $101.9 billion this year, and a staggering $167.5 billion by 2025-26.
Shadow Treasurer, David Davis, said the last thing Victorian families need is increased state government fees and charges.
“With Victorians expecting a surge in fees and charges from 1 July, Labor continues to hit struggling families and small businesses where it hurts,” Mr Davis said.
“More cost blowouts and higher taxes are not a recipe for recovery. Only the Liberals and Nationals will ensure there are no new taxes and act to reign in Labor’s out of control major project cost blowouts.”
The Victorian Liberals and Nationals will cut Labor’s waste, end the cycle of mismanagement, blame and spin, and invest to make Victoria number one again.