Gutwein’s broken promise waste tax will slug every Tasmanian family and business

Tasmanian Labor

The Gutwein Government has broken a major promise to Tasmanians not to impose any new taxes with its bid to rush through a Waste Tax.

Shadow Environment Minister Sarah Lovell said the Waste and Resource Recovery Bill currently before the Parliament was a barely disguised attempt to slug families and businesses with a new tax which would further increase the cost of living at a time when most households were already struggling.

“It was only six months ago that Peter Gutwein went to the state election firmly promising he would not introduce any new taxes,” Ms Lovell said.

“But this is not only a new tax, it is a significant new tax.

“This massive broken promise will directly hit the family budget and the bottom line for businesses.

“Under this Liberal Government the cost of living just continues to go up and up with no relief in sight.

“At a time when petrol prices are at an historic high rising 50 cents a litre in just the last year, rents have risen by $6,000 since the Liberals assumed office and the dream of home ownership is now just a dream, the government’s waste levy is unfair and a step backward for the finances of all Tasmanians.

“Councils will have no option but to pass on the cost of the waste levy to ratepayers and businesses will have no option but to pass on the cost of this new tax to consumers.

“It will put rates up, it will put rents up and it will mean increased costs for going to the tip.

“This lazy government had the option to choose alternative models from other states, like Queensland, that would have better results for the environment without increased costs for households but instead has opted to impose additional costs on all Tasmanians.

“And Tasmanians can add to that the fact that this unfair new tax will do nothing to reduce household waste and, in fact, it will likely see an increase of illegal dumping in our environment.”

Sarah Lovell MLC

Shadow Minister for Parks and Environment

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