The State Government is forcing people who have received erroneous land tax bills they still have to pay up in the hope they get reimbursed later.
Gippsland East MP, Tim Bull, questioned Treasurer Tim Pallas, on behalf of East Gippslanders, who have received what are clearly erroneous land tax bills, but were still being forced by the State Revenue Office (SRO) to pay the accounts.
Mr Pallas responded by stating “the measure (of forcing them to pay) prevents taxpayers using objections as a way to defer payment of a liability”, but that “if the objection is successful, the overpaid tax, with interest, will be refunded or applied to an outstanding tax liability”.
“What this does not take into account is the family that’s being forced to make a payment that has been charged in error may not have the capacity to pay the amount,” Mr Bull said.
He said in-effect the Treasurer is saying that despite his process stuffing things up, people must still find money to pay and hope they get it back down the track.
“The people who have come to my office have lodged objections to the charges that have clearly been made in error, but despite an answer to their complaint pending, still have to stump up the incorrectly charged amount.
“We have the Treasurer on one hand continually talking about cost-of-living challenges, but then making heartless decisions like this.
“Talk about say one thing and then do another. There is clearly no understanding how this sort of thing can impact families,” he said.
