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Disasters to hit budget

Posted by: 4bc.com.au | 29 January, 2013 - 1:07 PM

It's too early to consider a new flood levy to cover the cost of the damage to Queensland, a Liberal frontbencher says.

On Monday, federal Treasurer Wayne Swan said the summer of heatwaves, fires and floods would hit the budget but it was too soon to discuss another flood levy.

Liberal Queensland senator George Brandis said on Tuesday it was premature to be saying "categorically yes or no" to a new levy.

"We don't yet have an early assessment ... of the costs," he told Sky News.

"The first thing someone like Wayne Swan and other Labor politicians think of is 'Ah ha, here's another excuse to have another tax'."

He said whatever federal assistance was needed to help Queensland and NSW rebuild infrastructure could be accommodated if the Gillard government "tightened its belt".

"Before we start talking about a levy what we ought to be talking about is the federal government trimming its own spending," Senator Brandis said.

In the wake of the 2011 floods in Queensland and Victoria, the federal government introduced a one-off flood levy on taxpayers to cover the cost of the disasters.

Labor parliamentary secretary Mike Kelly said Australia had a "proud tradition" of using levies when necessary.

He pointed to the Howard government's gun buyback following the Port Arthur massacre.

Defending the Gillard government's $1.8 billion flood levy, Mr Kelly said some of that money had been deployed on flood damage prevention measures.

Blog comments

Hey Bella
You should talk to Brandis and tell him that Swannee has already said "No" to a levy. Dumbbum obviously doesn't know what's going on.

Bob Lord Wednesday 30 January, 2013 - 3:27 PM
Bob Lord, oh for a selective memory. I do believe that Wayne Swan was the first to memtion a levy!
Oh, Yes, he did so no, but that does mean yes in labor party speak.

BELLA Wednesday 30 January, 2013 - 1:13 PM
disasters to hit the budget, being a disaster itself they will be in good company all the disasters together. Another disaster of Labor.

mick Wednesday 30 January, 2013 - 10:29 AM
Fascinating, an article about something that hasn't been bought up by the government (levy) about flood damage caused by a flood that hasn't hit it's peak yet let alone receded enough to assess the damage.
Gees ask some questions about Abbott's new booklet - it's policy and it's ultra questionable.

Bob Lord Tuesday 29 January, 2013 - 1:27 PM