OZschwitz statist extortion: During recession, land taxes up by 25 per cent

TAXPAYERS owed more than $227 million in land tax by the end of February - a 20 per cent increase since last year, Office of State Revenue figures reveal - with a Herald investigation finding that much of the pain is being felt in the Labor Party's backyard.

The debt rise comes after the State Government lifted land taxes by 25 per cent on properties valued above $2.25 million at the onset of the recession in November last year.

Almost a fifth of the bill is owed by residents in the inner city. But the Labor heartland is also reeling, with a 60 per cent increase in the value of outstanding bills in Parramatta, making it third on the list of areas where the Office of State Revenue is chasing payments.

Wollongong, Burwood and Marrickville - all within Labor electorates - have also seen increases in unpaid tax bills of between 15 and 37 per cent, placing them on a list of vulnerable locations.

In North Ryde, where the number of unpaid land tax bills has almost doubled since February last year, the total value of the bills increased by 557 per cent.

The seat of Ryde saw a 23 per cent swing to the Liberals in a byelection last October when the Labor sitting member, John Watkins, retired.

The Premier, Nathan Rees, made the decision to target well-off investors by raising the property tax in a mini-budget in November after the cabinet budget committee had discussed whether stamp duties or motor vehicle insurance charges should be raised. It is understood that Mr Rees insisted that families not be hit by tax increases.

LNK

OZschwitz statist extortion: During recession, land taxes up by 25 per cent

OZschwitz statist extortion: During recession, land taxes up by 25 per cent

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