The Victorian Greens have slammed the Carroll Labor Government’s latest tax concessions for property developers, calling on Labor to build public housing instead of handing out more tax breaks to big business.
Under the changes, eligible developers will be exempt from the Absentee Owner Surcharge during construction, with some developments receiving further exemptions after completion.
The Greens are also demanding Labor rule out extending these concessions to data centre developments, which can qualify for the government’s Development Facilitation Program.
As stated by Victorian Greens Spokesperson for Housing, Gabrielle de Vietri MP:
“Renters are being squeezed, first-home buyers are locked out, and Labor’s answer is to give property developers another tax break to build so-called ‘affordable housing’ that ordinary Victorians still can’t afford.
“It’s the government’s job to build public housing, not outsource its responsibility to private developers and hope that tax breaks will somehow trickle down.
“Instead of giving developers more handouts, Labor should stop demolishing public housing and start building it. Public money should deliver public homes, not bigger profits for property investors.
“Labor is rushing through these tax breaks for property developers before the election, while making commitments on abortion and dental care conditional on being re-elected. That tells you everything you need to know about their priorities.
“Labor must immediately rule out these tax breaks extending to data centres. It would be outrageous if concessions announced in the name of affordable housing ended up subsidising massive data centres that won’t deliver a single home.
“Labor has its priorities backwards, handing tax breaks to big developers while ordinary people struggle to afford a home. The Greens want to give ordinary Victorians relief from stamp duty while making the ultra-wealthy and big corporations pay their fair share. “
