The Property Council of Australia has vehemently opposed the State Government's proposed levy on property owners to pay for the shortfall in funding for the State’s ambulance services.
The State Government has proposed that an $85 levy be imposed on all property owners in Queensland to help fund the shortfalls in funding for the ambulance service.
Property Council executive director Robert Walker said his organisation was outraged that the Government continued to tax a section of the community that would ultimately deliver services to everyone.
"Governments have a propensity to tax the property industry, as they see it as an easy target and this is just another example of the stupidity of this way of thinking," he said.
"When are governments going to learn that they will ultimately destroy the industry by continuing to burden them with increased taxes? In July we had the increase in land tax, and now this.
"What is even more disconcerting is that the industry was not consulted on the proposal and we only found out about the tax through the media – is this how the business community is going to be treated for the remainder of the term of this government?"
Mr Walker said the proposed levy also voided one of the Beattie Government’s key election platforms – no new taxes.
"We call Queensland the "Smart State" – but this decision is dumb. The Government introduces a new tax on the eve of Christmas to avoid debate and then passes the buck to local councils to do their dirty work."
Mr Walker said that it was important that Queenslanders had a fully serviced ambulance system, but added that if the whole of the community is going to benefit then the whole of community should bear the cost of delivering the service.
The Property Council has now called on the Government to delay the decision until proper consultation with all stakeholders has been undertaken.
