Without any consultation with Victorians, the Labor Government has announced its intention to impose a new vacant property tax on holiday homes.
Under the new measures, holiday home owners will need to prove their use of the property or be slapped with a new vacant property tax.
In new laws being put before State Parliament, the Government has confirmed it will soon start looking into water and sewerage usage of holiday homes, to assess how often homeowners visit the property.
In addition, the Government will encourage neighbours to ‘dob’ oneach other, and the State Revenue Office may then require homeowners to prove they have used the property, including handing over receipts from nearby shopping purchases.
The Government also confirmed in most cases where a holiday home is owned by a company or trust, it will not be eligible for an exemption, and owners will be forced to pay the new vacant property tax.
Shadow Treasurer, Brad Rowswell, said: “This latest tax grab is yet another hit on Victorians who are having to pay more and more for Labor’s mismanagement.
“With more than 50 new or increased taxes and charges since coming to government, Victorians are now paying the highest state taxes in the nation.”
Shadow Minister for Planning, James Newbury, said: “Jacinta Allan and her Government have confirmed they intend to monitor how you use your holiday home and even encourage neighbours to dob you in if you don’t meet usage requirements.
“Jacinta Allan should be ashamed for introducing these new measures and essentially spying on how Victorians use their holiday homes.”
