Victoria's latest irresponsible, fiscally undisciplined budget only serves to punish the middle class, put upward pressure on inflation and drive away investors, writes Nick Cater.
The COVID Debt Repayment Plan announced in this week’s Victorian Budget is a giant tax slug with some token savings on the side that the Victorian Treasurer claims is temporary, targeted and responsible.
The promise that the rise in government spending during the pandemic was only temporary has proved to be a gigantic con. The COVID levy being charged to businesses, rental home investors and private schools turns out on closer examination to be the Andrews levy, the cost of financing the political strategy of a government that just keeps spending.
The promise that businesses and workers who suffered from COVID restrictions would be compensated for their losses was nothing but a pea and thimble trick.It might be a burden taxpayers might have been willing to bear if the lockdown strategy had worked. The non-financial consequences of the strategy in health and education were apparent at the time but quietly ignored.
The Andrews administration’s mishandling meant the state was locked down harder than any other, suffered the worst economic consequences and is now burdened by the largest government debt.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
This could be the moment Daniel Andrews went too farThe Victorian premier became accustomed to playing the politics of division during the pandemic. Will his audacious and politically risky attack on businesses and property investors lead to a reckoning?
Read more »
Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto shrugs off UN official's comments defending Moira DeemingUnder pressure Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto has swatted away criticism from a top UN official about his treatment of expelled Liberal Moira Deeming, saying he was more focused on the state's budget.
Read more »
Victorian Labor MPs labelled ‘property barons’More than half of Victorian Labor MPs own more than one property, with five Labor cabinet ministers owning 21 additional properties between them. auspol
Read more »
Victorian Labor MPs labelled ‘property barons’More than half of Victorian Labor MPs own more than one property, with five Labor cabinet ministers owning 21 additional properties between them.
Read more »
School funding blow up as union accuses Andrews of shortchanging studentsState school funding is up, but high inflation and enrolment growth have combined to deliver an effective cut of 2.7 per cent, according to a budget analysis by the Australian Education Union.
Read more »
Man crushed to death in workplace accident at Victorian factoryAn engineering firm has been fined $250,000 after a worker was killed while dismantling a former Victorian cheese factory. 7NEWS
Read more »