The Andrews Government has backflipped and removed Andale School from its controversial Schools Tax hit list.
Andale School, one of Victoria’s smallest special schools that provides an alternative education for children who aren’t reaching their full potential in a mainstream environment, was initially listed as one of 60 schools subject to Labor’s new Schools Tax.
Following a lengthy campaign from the Andale School Community and the Victorian Liberals and Nationals, the State Revenue Office (SRO) has today confirmed Andale School’s payroll exempt status as a registered Public Benevolent Institution.
Despite the removal of Andale from the Schools Tax Hit List, the remaining 59 independent and non-government schools will continue to face higher costs and greater financial uncertainty due to this unfair and regressive tax over coming years.
Shadow Minister for Finance and Member for Kew, Jess Wilson, said “Andale School should never have been subjected to Labor’s Schools Tax and confirmation it has finally been removed is welcome news.
“Working with the school over the past few months, fighting for the right and fair outcome, has demonstrated the power of community advocacy.
“The fact it has taken SRO intervention, rather than the Minister, to get Andale off the Hit List demonstrates the unfair and regressive nature of the Andrews Government’s School Tax.
“Whether on threshold levels, the number of impacted schools or annual assessments, time and again the Andrews Government has been forced to backflip on its ill-conceived and unfair Schools Tax.
“The Andrews Government’s Schools Tax is a tax on education and only a future Liberals and Nationals Government will scrap it.”
