Bill: State Taxation Acts Amendment Bill 2025: Council Amendment

BILL DEBATE

‘STATE TAXATION ACTS AMENDMENT BILL 2025: COUNCIL AMENDMENT.

Thursday, 19 June 2025.

James NEWBURY (Brighton) (15:03):

I feel terribly sad that there are not many Members from the other side in the Chamber now, because I am about to say something positive about the Government.

As the Minister just said, these Amendments deal with two matters, and I would like to start on the second matter raised by the Minister in relation to expanding the land tax exemption to circumstances of natural disaster. Throughout debate, not only on the Bill but in interaction with the Treasurer’s office and debate in the other place, there was strong consultation in relation to expanding the domestic violence exemption to include those people, those victims of natural disaster, who are moving out of their homes because of that natural disaster and should not be penalised for it.

On both issues, in relation to domestic violence and natural disaster, the Opposition has strongly made representations to the government. In domestic violence I have been making personal representations to the Treasurer and the Premier and do acknowledge the fact that they have moved these amendments in law because of those representations. In relation to natural disaster, a number of members, including Wendy Lovell in the other place, who has been a very, very strong advocate for people who have suffered and been unfortunately taxed for the horrible circumstance they have been through, made representations, and she made me aware specifically of the need for reform. So, when the domestic violence Amendment came through this Bill, we sought to amend it in this place, and the government has accepted that in the other place.

So can I acknowledge on both of these things that this is a circumstance where Parliament is doing its best work. The Amendment that will pass very shortly will mean that domestic violence victims and victims of natural disaster are not paying tax for the circumstances they go through, and that can only be a good thing. I again acknowledge working with the Government on both of these Amendments. I think they are very important Amendments that fix a structural unfairness in the system, so the coalition obviously will not be opposing them, but I also acknowledge the work of the Government in working with me specifically to see this particular Amendment go through.

On the second matter, the second Amendment relates to build-to-rent requirements on leases. Industry feedback was very specific to the draft bill, which would have required a minimum 12-month lease. That did not quite hit the mark, and there were some unusual circumstances where 12 months might not suit. Industry provided that feedback to Government, and I acknowledge that the Government has understood the feedback from industry and has accepted the need to do that by way of regulation. Generally speaking, it would be fair to say I am always sceptical of any decision made by regulation, but I do accept in this instance that the Treasurer’s office and the Treasurer will use that discretion sparingly, only to allow a timeline that actually works for the best outcome. Though it is not going to be a 12-month exact figure in legislation, there is the intent or the spirit of having some form of minimum requirement to ensure no, for want of a better phrase, gaming of the system as it is. We accept the Government’s word that this power will be used sparingly.

I will finish on the point where I commenced – by saying that we are about to see two very important corrections at law made: those in relation to domestic violence victims and also victims of natural disaster. The Coalition will not be opposing those of course, and I would hope that this is an example of the Government and the Opposition working together for the betterment of the community. We will support those Amendments.