Bracks Tax Nationals Expose

Friday, 25 November 2005 The State Government has been challenged to provide tax relief to Victorian families and small businesses in the lead up to the 2006 election. With the next election due on November 25, 2006, Leader of The Nationals Peter Ryan says the Premier has one year to live up to government propaganda claiming ‘Victoria is the best place to live and raise a family’. “Melbourne Labor Ministers parrot this line but they don’t live up to the rhetoric,” Mr Ryan said. “The Bracks Government takes $100 million per day out of the pockets of Victorian families and the business community and it’s time to provide some relief. “Stamp duty, land tax and payroll tax should all be adjusted to lessen the tax burden on Victorians. “The annual increases in thousands of fees and charges imposed by State Government departments should also be addressed. “When the Bracks Government came to power, the total revenue received by the state was $20 billion – now it has grown to more than $36 billion per year. “That’s $100 million per day out of the pockets of Victorians and into the Treasury coffers of the Bracks Government.” Mr Ryan said the government had introduced a range of new taxes and levies while failing to deliver major projects and wasting money on government advertising. “While Victorians are being subjected to excessive taxes, levies and fees the Government is wasting millions of dollars on blatant political advertising,” Mr Ryan said. “The Nationals have challenged the government to order a Parliamentary Inquiry into such advertising and establish a Code of Conduct to end this rort of taxpayers’ money.” Mr Ryan said The Nationals were aiming to hold the balance of power after the 2006 election to continue providing country communities with a strong voice in State Parliament. “We believe it’s in the best interests of country Victorians to have a strong and united voice in Parliament, pursuing issues of importance to everyone who lives outside of Melbourne,” Mr Ryan said. “If we are successful in gaining the balance of power after the 2006 election, particularly in the reformed Upper House, we would be well placed to use the position responsibly to pursue improved services and infrastructure for country areas.” Bracks Taxes The Auditor-General’s Report on the Finances of the State of Victoria said revenue in 2004-05 exceeded $36 billion. Since 1999-2000, state revenue has grown by 34%. The Government has introduced a range of fees and charges:

The congestion levy – is expected to raise $140 million over the next three years;

An environmental charge - or water tax – will deliver about $45 million into Treasury’s funds each year;

Revenue from fines and charges totaled $337 million in 2004-05 and increase of $22 million on the previous year, primarily because of automatic indexation introduced by the Bracks Government.

The development tax – ripping an extra $8000 off every block of land on the outskirts of Melbourne.

Gambling revenue – the Government has increased the levy on gaming machines from $33 to $3 033 per machine.

Land Tax – In 2004-05 the state collected land tax worth $808 million. Over the two terms of the Bracks Government, land tax revenue skyrocketed as the government delayed making crucial amendments to the tax.

Registration Hike for Pensioners – In May 2004, the Bracks Government scrapped the car registration concession for pensioners, taxing pensioners an extra $78.50 each year.

Payroll tax – Despite the current skill shortage, the Bracks Government has levied a payroll tax on the wages and salaries of apprentices and trainees, discouraging employers from taking them on and reaping an additional $30 million last year.

Stamp duty - Stamp duty on the conveyance of a typical Melbourne house has risen by more than 80 per cent since the Bracks Government came to office. In 2004-05, the state collected $2337 million from stamp duty on conveyancing.

Saw Logs – The government has increased the price of saw logs to Victorian sawmillers and timber companies. Media contact: Darren Chester 0418 390 229 www.peterryan.com.au

Thwaites Water Legislation Now In

November 28 2005

Country News

Municipal ratepayers will be forced to fund the Bracks Government's water reforms under legislation passed by the Victorian Parliament last week, State Member for North Eastern Province Wendy Lovell said.

The new Water Bill will pave the way for the "unbundling" of land and water.

The Bill passed through the upper house of the Victorian Parliament last week.

Ms Lovell said the separation of land and water would have a direct impact on the rate revenue for local government areas within the irrigation district.

But Water Minister John Thwaites said irrigation water rights would continue to be included in council rates until July 1, 2008 to give councils time to manage any impacts arising from proposed irrigation reforms.

He said the reforms would give irrigators greater choice and flexibility, as well as allowing them to take out mortgages on their entitlement.

Ms Lovell estimated that the removal of water from the capital improved value of land for rating purposes would cost the Campaspe Shire about $1 million/year and the Moira Shire about $670 000/year.

Rates in the Campaspe Shire would need to rise by six per cent to recover the lost revenue.

"This rate increase, to recover revenue lost because of `unbundling', will need to be in addition to any rate increases that council has already foreshadowed," Ms Lovell said.

Mr Thwaites said they would have 2¹/₂ years to work with local government to develop appropriate rating strategies for after 2008.

"We will consult with the Municipal Association of Victoria and it will be working with the DSE to determine the effect of unbundling and appropriate rating strategies for affected councils."

 

Bracks Feeds Governemnt Fat Cats

THE Bracks Government has stacked the public service with record number of highly paid fat cats.

A record 1152 senior executives now enjoy taxpayer-funded salaries.

The explosion in numbers comes despite a pledge from Premier Steve Bracks in 1999 to pare down the number of bureaucrats paid out of the public purse.

New figures show 20 of Victoria's highest-paid bureaucrats now receive packages of more than $250,000 a year, including wages, superannuation perks and taxpayer-funded cars.

By comparison, Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show the average wage of Victorians last year was $40,000.

In the 10 public service departments, the bill for executive salaries grew last year by more than $5 million, to take the cost of paying fat cats to $86.8 million.

The true cost is millions more, as big pay rises were awarded to senior personnel across a range of government agencies.

An analysis of departmental and public agency annual reports by the Herald Sun shows:

THE highest-paid bureaucrat in Victoria was VicUrban chief John Tabart, who was paid a staggering $450,000 in wages and performance bonuses.

SIX senior bureaucrats earned more than $400,000 -- 10 times the wage of average Victorians.

EDUCATION and Training secretary Grant Hehir enjoyed an $80,000 pay rise last year, taking his package to $390,000.

TREASURY Corporation boss Bill Whitford also enjoyed a hefty $70,000 pay rise, his package increasing from $370,000 to $440,000 last financial year.

The bureaucrats are getting paid far more than Premier Steve Bracks, who gets $265,000 a year, and even Prime Minister John Howard, who gets $289,000.

Government spokeswoman Rebecca Spiteri said the growth in wages was in line with that of executive salaries in other states.

Ms Spiteri said the independent Government Services Executive Remuneration Panel rigorously monitored executive wages in the public sector.

"A study . . . reports Victorian public sector executive wages are significantly less than private sector employees'," she said.

Across the public sector, 1152 people were paid executive wages last financial year, an increase of 143 from the previous year.

It is the highest number of senior executives ever employed in Victoria.

Liberal government scrutiny spokesman Richard Dalla Riva said that in the 10 big government departments alone, the annual executive salary bill had grown from $58 million to $86 million since Mr Bracks came to power.

"Over a period of five years, the wages bill has ballooned out quite dramatically and is now the highest on record in Victoria," Mr Dalla Riva said.

The only department not to raise its executive salary bill was the Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development, which cut 12 senior executives in the past five years and saw an overall executives wages drop of about $300,000.

 

Water Susidies Bracks Style

Mr Bracks is out there wooing rural communities presenting that ever present façade of “my government is here to help the farmers”. So let SOS present some facts from your own government resources Mr Bracks on water rebate/subsidies that paint yet another picture of your inability report the truth.

 

We have figures from the Victorian Department of Sustainability year ending 2004, that confirm your dedicated help is directed to the city folk on a big dollar basis that

indicates the loyalty farmers receive from Shifty Steve. Take a look at some of the major contributions to farmer compared with the city.

 

For example Lake Mokoam has been decommissioned by Bracks government which was servicing irrigation to farmers leaving them without water and a rebate being the cheapest of $1364 for 44,000 megalitres a total of $60 million.

 

Now in the city for saving just 220 megalitres for 13,770 consumers who bought AAA washing machines they received $150 being $2.07m which is cost of $9375 per megalitre.

Let us not forget the important AAA dishwasher which netted 5815 city dwellers for saving 17.4 megalitres $100 each costing government $581,500.00 which is $5,815 per megalitre.

 

Now the crowning glory to attract your attention was catering to the snow bunnies, those well known polluters of the Snowy Mountain Mt Hotham area during the winter. This protected species received 100 megalitres of grey water to “make snow” at a cost to Victorians of $84,000 per megalitre resulting in a staggering cost of $8.4 million dollars.

 

More of this is available but it would be stating the obvious how Mr Bracks and John (Twitter) Thwaites (Minister for Conservation) lie to rural communities of Victoria.

 

Contact we have within the bunkers of Bracks told us the spin doctors for the millstones of ministry relate that the city people need to feel they have made an investment to water conservation.

 

Well it’s your election in 2006, “what do you think”?

 

Why not email Mr Bracks here and tell him your thoughts.

Libs Talk Tax Waste

Victorian Liberal Shadow Attorney General, Mr Andrew McIntosh reveals the wastage of your hard earned tax dollars by the Bracks Government.

1) $1,400,000 for the designing of a new State logo. 2) $400,000 given to taxi drivers to lose weight. 3) The "Fast Rail" cost blow out from $80,000,000 to $750,000,000. 4) Bracks 5 year consultancy costs to you the tax payer of some $500,000,000

No wonder you people in Victoria are suffering a lack of services in the form of Health, Mental Health, Education and Policing as is NSW. The cabals must be all interlinked.

Change the law to obtain right outcome

CRITICISM of a State Government minister has been removed from a Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal judgement.

The remarks were directed at Environment Minister John Thwaites for his late intervention in a legal dispute.

A draft copy of senior VCAT member Jacqueline Preuss' finding stated it was "unfortunate" that Mr Thwaites chose to intervene about 4½ months after Graham McNeill had sought to overturn a State Government decision not to register his Kerry beagles.

When it appeared that the Department of Sustainability and Environment would lose the case, Mr Thwaites invoked a procedure that forced VCAT to rule in the Government's favour.

His intervention changed Victorian law and required Mr McNeill's beagles, imported from Ireland, to be recognised by the Australian National Kennel Club before being eligible for registration.

The move meant Mr McNeill was unable to use his Kerry beagles as scent-trail dogs to hunt feral sambar deer in Victoria's high country.

Under Victorian law, beagles and bloodhounds are the only dogs that can be used to stalk deer.

In her draft finding, Ms Preuss wrote: "This left Mr McNeill with having to meet a case that changed from the case presented by the department in the materials lodged by it pursuant to the tribunal's orders, and different to the case outlined in the submissions provided … on the first day of hearing."

But in the version of the finding published on the internet, the paragraph dealing with Mr Thwaites' intervention has been removed, prompting the State Opposition to call for an investigation.

"The head of VCAT needs to have a full inquiry as to what were the motivations for this substantial change to a decision that was handed down," Opposition environment spokesman Phil Honeywood said.

By Richard Baker (The Age Melbourne)
October 31, 2005

 

Voter promise broken by Bracks

Astonishingly, given that its urban planning strategy depends on a comprehensive public transport network, the Bracks Government recently said no major train or tram-line extensions would be built for 15 to 20 years — some suburbs have been promised these for decades — in spite of pressing public need as fuel prices soar. The excuse, rail-line capacity, is another product of infrastructure neglect. Even a stopgap outer-suburban bus network has attracted only a quarter of the $50 million that is needed. Roads invariably get priority. The Government broke a 1999 election promise to build a rail line to South Morang, but it is roads and tolls that concern both sides of politics. And the plan when the Commonwealth Games give Melbourne a taste of its future transport crush? Workers will be urged to car pool, ride bikes or walk.

Of course, demand management is an immediate, cost-effective response to tight supply, whether this involves transport, power or water. Victorians' water-saving achievements are considerable, but even that only buys time, little more than a decade, to supplement current reserves. If that seems a long way off, consider that Labor's time in office will extend to a decade if re-elected next year. For all the Government's assurances, progress on the problems of public transport and power supply has been minimal. There are always plans aplenty, but even after a decade of plenty, too little is set aside in the budget to make them work. Over in Western Australia, power blackouts and water shortages were factors in this year's state election. Victoria is not yet at that point, but should power fail, dams run low or commuters be left stranded, voters will have good reason to vent their anger at complacent government policies.

 

Mine Fuhrer Bracks Play God

By Paul Austin (The Melbourne Age)
October 28, 2005
Is it a constitutional crisis or a just a storm in a Melbourne cup?

STEVE Bracks stands accused of taking an axe to the state's constitution while simultaneously caving in to pressure from some of the less savoury characters in the racing industry. Not a bad daily double during the spring carnival and on the cusp

of the 150th anniversary of constitutional democracy in Victoria.

The Premier's most shrill accuser is the State Opposition. But some people with a fondness for Victoria's constitutional niceties, and some other people with a concern about the good name of racing, also believe Bracks has at least a case to answer in The Strange Case of the Disappearing Legislation.

So why are they saying such nasty things about the nice-guy Premier? First, the constitutional "crisis" (yes, some who are schooled in parliamentary practice are using that word).

On May 24 the Government introduced the Racing and Gambling Acts Bill 2005, legislation designed to tighten control on interstate and overseas betting. It was passed by the lower house on September 14, and by the upper house on October 4. Nothing unusual there; the Government holds a handsome majority in both houses.

But when the clerk of the Parliament presented the bill to Governor John Landy on October 11 for royal assent, something most unusual happened. As upper house president Monica Gould reported to Parliament last Thursday: "The Governor, acting on the advice of the Premier, declined to assent to the bill." That is, the Governor, on the advice of the executive Government, declined to sign into law a bill passed by both houses of Parliament.

The Opposition felt the foundations of democracy shake. This was unprecedented in Victoria's history, it proclaimed. Indeed, the last occasion when royal assent was refused in the Westminister system was in 1707 when Queen Anne declined to sign a bill for settling militia in Scotland.

The Government says there's no big deal, that this is a mere technicality. The Premier has the constitutional right to advise the Governor, goes the Government's argument, and the bill will be enacted within weeks anyway, after further "consultations" requested by some racing industry players.

But the Liberals point to section 87E of the constitution, which they say makes clear the Governor must act on the advice of the executive except when he is acting as part of the Parliament, and to section 15, which they say indicates that when exercising the power of assent, the Governor is acting as part of the Parliament.

Farmers Confidence Lost

By Nonie Stava

October 24 2005

Shepparton News

Farmers passed a motion of no confidence in Victorian Water Minister John Thwaites and Victorian Agriculture Minister Bob Cameron in Numurkah on Friday.

More than 100 irrigators, farmers and business owners from as far as Beechworth voiced their concerns about new water laws at a meeting called by the National Party.

Party leader Peter Ryan and agriculture spokesman Peter Walsh presented eight amendments relating to licensing, water rights, and the environment.

The amendments were in direct response to the Victorian Government's Water Resource Management Bill and will be presented by the pair in parliament this week.

Naringaningalook farmer and Victorian Irrigators Council president Barry Croke said the ministers had failed to protect the livelihoods of rural communities.

"I push for a vote of no confidence in the Minister of Water John Thwaites and Minister for Agriculture Bob Cameron for their failure to protect the livelihoods of country communities in the drafting of the bill," Mr Croke said.

Waaia dairy farmer and Northern Victorian Irrigators vice-president Lewis Pugh moved a motion urging the National Party to lobby the Victorian Farmers Federation to abandon the 80:20 deal, which would return 20 per cent of irrigators' water to the environment in exchange for compensation, including infrastructure upgrades.

Mr Walsh said communities needed to get behind farmers.

"This legislation does not only affect irrigators but the whole community, including the likes of SPC Ardmona and milk product manufacturers," he said.

 

 

Do we have a Fifth Columnist

PREMIER Steve Bracks has defended Ballarat Mayor David Vendy in the wake of the Liberal Party branding him a "Labor Party puppet".

Mr Bracks said yesterday the personal attack on the mayor was "a bit weird".

"They should play the ball not the man," he said during a visit to Ballarat.

"The mayor was doing his job. The mayor was standing up and saying this is good, this is going to be of great benefit to get a (rail) service around the 60-minute mark into Ballarat."

The Premier's comments came after Ballarat Liberal Party field officer Barry Traynor called on Cr Vendy to "own up" to his Labor affiliations.

"The truth is that you are a puppet for the Labor Party and have been for some time," Mr Traynor said.

The explosive allegations followed the mayor's call for critics of the fast rail project to "shut up".

Cr Vendy said critics should let communities along the Ballarat rail corridor reap the rewards of the major project.

Mr Bracks said the Ballarat council had a long-standing policy of backing the fast rail service.

"I think it's a bit rich for local Liberal Party officials to have a go at somebody in council because they're doing their job," he said.

Mr Traynor called on Cr Vendy this week to explain why he was in regular contact with the Premier and to reveal what "instructions" he was receiving.

Cr Vendy dismissed the allegations.

"I'm astounded at the accusations," he said.

"If they weren't so funny they'd be serious."

Mr Bracks said it was his job to talk to mayors.

"I deal with mayors right across the state frankly, and I have a good relationship with mayors of all provincial cities," he said.

"I meet with them several times a year. It's something we do that the last government didn't do.

"If they want to stand up for their communities they will not be criticised by us for doing that."

Mr Traynor also suggested the mayor had been approached to stand for the Labor Party, which Cr Vendy denied.

Mr Bracks said any future political career for Cr Vendy was "purely hypothetical, that's up to him".

Editors Note:

 

Remember this article when the election pushing and shoving starts and see if Cr Vendy is a candidate for labor and in the meantime keep an eye on him, puppet may not be a strong enough term for this fly in the ointment.

 

 

 

 

Independant Sacks Bracks

THE Victorian independent MP whose support helped bring Steve Bracks' minority Labor Government to power said he will actively campaign against the premier at next year's state election. Russell Savage said he hand delivered a letter to Mr Bracks on Thursday, stating his intentions, after talks broke down between the pair two days earlier. The two are in conflict over the government's plan to build a toxic waste dump in Mr Savage's electorate, Mildura. "It grieves me greatly to write this letter but I have been left with no option," Mr Savage wrote.

"Whilst the Government presses on with the Total Waste Containment Facility at Hatta/Nowingi, I shall be working against you and your Government between now and the next election," the letter said.

Source: Melbourne Herald Sun

 

Bracks plans off track

Victorian Sun Herald 17nov05

A year out from the next state election TANYA GILES and PETER MICKELBUROUGH look at some of the Bracks Government's unfulfilled promises.

THE Bracks Government's toll of broken promises stretches further than the Premier's now infamous 2002 pre-election pledge to build the Mitcham to Frankston freeway without tolls.

From vows to be more open and accountable to reducing hospital waiting lists and delivering natural gas to country towns, the Government has struggled to always match its actions with its electioneering boasts.

Transport has proved the Government's biggest truth test, with even its much vaunted Regional Fast Rail program at best a bare pass on a promise.

The project will cost taxpayers $670 million more than initial estimates and while the Premier promised trips of 60 minutes to Ballarat and 80 minutes to Bendigo, not even the few express services now planned will meet these targets.

A spokeswoman for Transport Minister Peter Batchelor, Louise Perry, said the Government never said the project would be completed for $80 million and that figure was the first estimate of the Government's contribution.

Ms Perry said the project cost of $750 million was the result of a huge safety upgrade.

Ms Perry said savings on travel times ranged from six minutes on the Geelong route to 19 minutes for Traralgon.

Passenger rail services to Mildura is another unmet promise from before the 1999 election.

In June 2001 Mr Batchelor said passenger rail services to Mildura would be up and running by the end of 2004, or even earlier.

While about $20 million has been set aside for preliminary work on the project, not one sleeper or spike has been inserted into the rail line so far because ownership issues meant the Government could not gain access to the line for inspections.

Since then, the Government has found the tracks have suffered major deterioration and are in no fit state for passenger trains.

Ms Perry said work had been completed on the Geelong grain loop and works to improve other railway links had begun.

Then there is the rapid public transport link that Labor abandoned after a feasibility study found the numbers would not add up, although airport use has grown since.

The Government also failed to extend metropolitan rail services as it promised in 1999.

After extending electric services to Sydenham, a $42.9 million plan to extend lines such as Cranbourne East and South Morang in partnership with private operators was abandoned.

Buses now run on the route to meet every train.

And while work has begun, the Government has been accused of failing to connect natural gas to all Victorian towns, which were promised to be linked to the biggest gas rollout in provincial Victoria since the 1970s.

Avoca, Wandong, Heywood, Smythesdale, Nathalia, Beechworth, Myrtleford, Bright, Wandong, Yea, Alexandra and Bonnie Doon missed out.

Treasurer John Brumby has said the commitments were only made on preliminary investigations that showed the towns were strong contenders.

Mr Brumby said the Government received no bids for some of the towns and other bids were too expensive.

He said yesterday $70 million had been set aside in the Budget to connect 32 towns to natural gas over four years.

In the critical area of education, the Bracks Government promised that by 2005 Victorian primary school students would be at or above national benchmark levels for reading, writing and numeracy.

Victorian students are among the nation's best in writing and numeracy, but are among Australia's worst readers.

The state's reading crisis hit the hardest in Year 7, where 15 per cent of boys failed national reading benchmarks.

A spokesman for Education Minister Lynne Kosky said on average, Victorian students exceeded national benchmarks in reading, writing and numeracy and were benefiting from a $100 million investment in literacy.

The Government has also come under fire for failing to live up to its catch-cry of being open, honest and accountable, particularly when processing Freedom of Information requests.

An investigation by Ombudsman George Brouwer did not substantiate Opposition claims of "delay tactics", but did identify problems in the way requests had been dealt with.

A spokeswoman for Attorney-General Rob Hulls, Sally Finlay, said there had been almost a 60 per cent increase in FOI requests since the Government's first year of office and a record 22,493 requests were reported this year alone.

Ms Finlay said access to documents was denied in just 3 per cent of cases.

"FOI processes will always be a work in progress. The Government looks forward to the Ombudsman's recommendations as to how we can continue to make improvements to this essential democratic mechanism," she said.

The Government has also been accused of hiding damning statistics in its Your Hospi-tals report, as more than 41,000 Victorians wait on elective surgery lists.

The report has omitted data that had been previously reported, including comparisons on the number of emergency patients admitted to hospital and number of patients waiting for elective surgery.

In its latest report on hospital services, the Government claimed to have treated more patients and "maintained" waiting lists, falling short of its promise to reduce elective surgery waiting lists.

A spokesman for Health Minister Bronwyn Pike said in July the Government began a $30 million elective surgery blitz, which will see an extra 11,000 operations performed by Victorian public hospitals before the end of the financial year.

Opposition Leader Robert Doyle yesterday accused the Government of breaking almost 400 election promises worth $3.5 billion.

"Who can trust a word this mob says? Big on promises, short on delivery. And this is at a time when Victoria has had windfall gains from increased taxes," Mr Doyle said.

A government spokeswoman said the Government had another 12 months in its second term of office to fulfil its election commitments.

She said the promises were underpinned by a commitment to fiscal responsibility and growing the whole of Victoria.

 

Welcome to Victorian Election 2006

A choice of having the police state of Victoria being run by the fourth reich dictator Bracks or placing the debt ridden state in the hands of Liberals who cannot decide which green party guideline to follow next. Sad but true, and without moving interstate you may consider an independant or two who can hold the balance of power generated from the millstones of the party faithfull that have yet to experience a thought of their own other than to follow the sheep in front to the polling booths just like thier forefathers did.