Happy to hear of the defeat of the GAIC tax are, back from left, Royce Carter, Robert Wuchatsch, Heather Holtham, John Holtham, Kevin Williamson, Graeme Dodson, Audrey Dodson, Michael Hocking, Val Williamson, Lisa Crombie and Sue Stott. Front from left are Tania Brooker, Sam Brooker and Lee Bray.
By Bridget Brady
ARDENT dedication has paid off for landowners who protested against the GAIC, but they remain “cautiously relieved”, says the head of a lobby group.
Taxed Out chairman Michael Hocking said he was proud of the commitment by numerous landowners from across the state who joined the group and gave up their time in the quest to see the tax axed.
“We’re very proud. From the elderly citizens who did mail drops to the people who got up and protested in front of parliament and who never intended to make public speeches,” Mr Hocking said.
Members were thrilled the GAIC was defeated last week, but a large degree of uncertainty remained as landowners feared they could be taxed again, Mr Hocking said.
“This needs to be resolved. It can’t be put on the backburner until after the election.”
The State Government said the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) would not be moved without the GAIC tax, and a government spokesperson this week told the Gazette the government now had no plan in relation to the extension of the UGB.
But Mr Hocking said the government could move the boundary tomorrow if it wanted to.
“The government cannot say there is not an alternative on the table. They must have known there was huge opposition to this.”
Members of Taxed Out and other stakeholders agreed a fairer alternative would be to levy the tax at the point of development.
Mr Hocking said until any announcement was made, the government was “holding the development industry to ransom to some degree”.
“I think if the government doesn’t move the boundary there will be severe consequences on housing affordability.”
Mr Hocking said he was thankful that opposition parties held the balance of power.
“We managed to hang on to democracy by the narrowest of threads.”
