Media Release
Property
owners in Bundaberg and other disaster-prone Queensland locations are
paying a high price for the Newman Government’s twisted priorities, says
Shadow Construction and
Public Works Minister, Bill Byrne.
In
Bundaberg to see the progress of flood recovery measures and receive an
update on what remains to be done, Mr Byrne attacked Premier Campbell
Newman’s decision to raise expectations
of a cut in premiums while ruling out any reduction in the insurance
tax hikes he approved in his own 2013 State Budget.
“In
the 2013 Budget, the LNP increased a number of insurance taxes from
7.5% to 9% which was yet another one of its many broken promises to cut
the cost of living,” he said.
“The
impact is being felt throughout the state, but is particularly cruel in
places like Bundaberg and other regional areas where insurance
companies have hiked-up premiums after
the devastation of natural disasters."
“The
increase in the insurance premium levy will rake-in about an extra $250
million a year for the Newman Government – roughly the same amount as
the Auditor-General says will
disappear into a massive black hole caused by the LNP’s disastrous
decision to build itself a new Executive Building in the Brisbane CBD."
“The
Auditor-General has reported that this unnecessary tower block for
Premier Newman and his Ministers will cost taxpayers a shocking $2.6
billion over 10 to 15 years and at
the end of that time Queenslanders will still not own it."
“It
is clear Ministers would rather indulge themselves at taxpayers’
expense rather than do anything practical to ease the burden being
suffered by victims of floods and cyclones."
“After
nearly two years in power, this Brisbane CBD office development is
still the only infrastructure project the LNP has got under way and it
has made a monstrous mess of it."
“The
Auditor-General was scathing in his criticism of Treasurer Tim
Nicholls’ decision to sell seven government-owned office blocks in
Brisbane for $237 million less than their
book value as a way to kick-start this ill-judged project."
“The
Auditor-General also identified that over the next 10 to 15 years
taxpayers would pay $1.2 billion in dead money to rent back the seven
buildings and a further $1.2 billion
to rent space in the Executive Building."
“If
the Newman Government was not committed to indulging itself with an
unnecessary new building it wouldn’t have to hike insurance taxes and
would have been able to contribute
more to Bundaberg’s recovery."
“Courtesy
of the LNP’s twisted priorities, it is disaster-hit householders paying
higher insurance premiums who will help fund the new Executive
Building."
“The
Opposition is calling for Mr Newman to reconsider his
couldn’t-care-less-attitude and is pledged to support any genuine
efforts to ease the financial pressures on battlers
in Bundaberg and elsewhere where insurance premiums have sky-rocketed."
“Mr
Newman raised hope for flood victims by putting together a committee to
investigate ways of cutting the cost of insurance, but has dashed those
hopes by rejecting the only
practical way the State Government could really make a difference.
“Sadly, this is typical of the Newman Government’s weasel words and broken promises over cost of living increases.”
Mr
Byrne said while in Bundaberg he would also meet firefighters to
discuss their concerns and receive an update on preparedness for
bushfires as the summer reached its peak.
“It
should be remembered that all Queensland households will also pay more
for fire and rescue services this year, but there will be no
corresponding increase in the fire and rescue
budget or the effectiveness of the service,” he said.
“So much for the LNP cutting the cost of living."
“In
regional Queensland some households will face a new levy of $90, which
will appear on their first rate bills of 2014, while in urban areas the
existing urban fire levy will
rise by an average of $10.80."
“It
is expected that these tax rises will raise a little over $24 million –
just a little shy of the amount the Newman Government has ripped out
the Emergency Management, Fire
and Rescue Budget."
“When
you add these hikes to the increases in electricity costs and water
bills, the average family of four has seen taxes rise by more than
$1,000 a year since the LNP took power,”
he said
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