News

| May 06, 2020

Payroll tax exemption on JobKeeper payments secured

Community pressure, with support from The Nationals, has forced the Andrews Labor Government to exclude JobKeeper payments from Victorian payroll tax and WorkCover premiums.

Nationals Member for Lowan Emma Kealy said it never should have been on the table for the state government to try to tax federal JobKeeper payments.

“For a month, The Nationals have been pushing for a guarantee that the federal government’s JobKeeper payments – which are intended to keep people in jobs and businesses open – will be exempt from the Victorian Government’s payroll tax,” she said.

“The Andrews Labor Government has finally announced further financial relief measures, but has failed to freeze a number of fees and charges – including council rates – that are hurting Victorian family budgets under pressure.

“I’ll be continuing to listen to our community and fight for the relief we need to make sure local jobs are secure and our businesses can stay open.”

The Andrews Government has not adopted Liberal Nationals’ calls to waive registration payments for commercial vehicles grounded because of COVID-19 restrictions, freeze local government rates, cancel the increase in CityLink tolls, or freeze the salaries of Victorian MPs.

The Nationals have also called for the automatic extension of licences that cannot be used, such as recreational fishing licences given Labor’s ban on this activity.

“Every cent we can keep in the pockets of Victorian families and businesses will make a difference, so it is disappointing these measures have not been considered by the Andrews Government,” Ms Kealy said.

“Victorians are already the highest-taxed people in the country, and we need this government to deliver more relief.”